Cocktail Buns (雞尾包)

雞尾包, or Cocktail Buns, are a popular Cantonese bakery treat known for their sweet, coconut-filled centers and soft, pillowy bread. Traditionally, these buns were made with leftover buns and sugar, symbolizing the idea of turning something simple into something special. Here’s a recipe to make your own Cocktail Buns at home.

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Course Dessert

Cuisine Chinese

Ingredients

For the Bread Dough:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 cup warm milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup unsalted butter softened

For the Filling:

1 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk powder optional

For the Topping:

1 egg for egg wash
Sesame seeds for sprinkling optional

Instructions

Prepare the Bread Dough:

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
Add the warm milk and eggs to the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
Knead in the softened butter until the dough is smooth and elastic. This might take about 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes in a mixer with a dough hook.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1-2 hours.

Make the Coconut Filling:

In a bowl, mix together the desiccated coconut, sugar, softened butter, egg, vanilla extract, and milk powder until well combined.

Shape the Buns:

Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface.
Divide the dough into equal portions, rolling each into a ball.
Flatten each ball into a disc, place a spoonful of coconut filling in the center, then bring the edges together and pinch to seal.
Roll the bun lightly to form an oval shape.

Second Rise:

Place the buns on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes, until puffy.

Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Apply Egg Wash and Topping:
Lightly beat the remaining egg and brush the tops of the buns with it. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.