Baked Red Bean Buns

If you’ve ever visited an Asian bakery, you’d have noticed that the tables are predominantly covered with bread-y pastries.

Baked Red Bean Buns

baked red bean and char siu bao

Some are savory and others sweet. Most of the fillings are very common to Asians, like red bean paste, lotus paste, and custard for sweet buns or charsiew, curry chicken, pork/meat floss, and sausage for savory buns. I especially enjoy things that have red bean filling in it.

When I first got to San Jose, I would try out different Asian bakeries for their buns. Almost every bake shop that sold these lovely treats would charge between $0.75 to $1.50 for ONE! And most times, when I’d bite into one, the filling would be so little and most of the bun would just be bread. Very disappointing!

I Dread Baking Bread

For a long time, I avoided baking them myself. The main reason for this is that I have a dread of baking bread. I don’t know why…I just always thought I would fail dismally at baking bread. After one too many disappointing buys of these costly buns, I decided to just suck it in and try baking these treats myself.

I searched online and also looked on some food forums and even bought a book on Asian breads. Armed with as much information as I could, I bought all the ingredients and, psyching myself up to bake bread, I did it. My first time wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst either. Seriously, people, I had a great dread for baking bread. I can’t explain to you how reluctant I was to do it.

And guess what, it wasn’t so bad! I don’t know why I was so fearful of bread-baking. Since then, I’ve actually baked a lot of different types of bread. I’m still a little scared of plunging into artisanal breadsfoccacia, sourdoughs, ciabatta, french loaves, etc. But one day, I know I will get there.

The Apprentice

And some cookbooks really did help me to understand bread. Peter Reinhart‘s The Bread Baker’s Apprentice inspired me with his beautiful pictures and wonderful introduction (still a little scary–the bread world sounds very precise and yet, sometimes unpredictable). Rose Levy Beranbaum‘s The Bread Bible was the best help for me! She gave such detailed and precise instructions that I felt confident that as long as I followed along, I would get it right.

But these books don’t talk about Asian breads. Asian breads tend to be soft, light and sweet. Something like Portuguese Sweet Bread but with fillings or fluffy dinner rolls. Alex Goh’s book on Asian breads helped a little to give me some understanding but the information is not as in depth or as precise as the first two books I mentioned.

Anyhow, if you’re like me and really scared of baking bread (for irrational reasons), let me encourage you: "If Ann can bake, ah, so can you!" (Ok, that was lame – I don’t even like being called Ann – but just couldn’t help myself! ^_^ )

Baked Red Bean Buns

Adapted from "World of Bread" by Alex Goh

Ingredients:

(A)
480g Bread Flour
120g All Purpose Flour
110g sugar
10g salt
20g Milk Powder (I substituted with Coffee Mate)
4 tsps Instant Yeast

(B)
1 Egg
300 ml Cold Water

(C)
60g Butter

Method:

1. Mix (A) till well blended.

I just stirred it around with a spoon.

2. Add (B) and knead on your mixer with hook attachment until it forms a dough. I add the egg and then turn the mixer on slow and drizzle the water in slowly as it is mixing.

3. Add (C) and continue to knead to form a smooth and elastic dough, about 10 minutes on my Kitchen Aid on 4 speed (with breaks when the motor got hot).

Dough is ready when you can "windowpane" it

Dough is ready when you can

4. Gather dough into a ball and place in a bowl that has been oiled. Flip dough around to oil the entire dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for about 50-60 minutes or till it doubles in size. If you are having trouble getting it to double, here’s a tip:

  • Fill a small bowl with water and microwave on high for about 1 minute. Move bowl to corner and sit your dough in the hot steamy microwave (with the door closed, of course) for the resting time. That should do the trick!

5. Once dough has doubled, divide the dough into small balls (you should get between 18-24 pieces depending on how big or small you want your buns to be). Rest for 10 mins (normally by the time I’m done with the last ball, the first ball is ready for filling) and then fill with red bean paste (about 1-1.5 Tbsp per bun):flatten the balls, put the paste in the center and gather the dough around the paste and pinch to close.

Red Bean Filling in the Bun

red bean filling in the bun

Flip over and put the pinched part on the bottom of the parchment lined tray (make sure to space them a few inches apart).

6. Once all the buns are done, cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it proof for another 50-60 minutes or until doubled in size.

Filled Red Bean Buns Proofing

filled red bean buns proofing

7. About the last 10 mins of proofing, preheat the oven to 350 F. Beat one egg and brush the buns gently with eggwash. If you desire, sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on the bun.

Sprinkling Sesame Seeds on Sausage Buns

sprinkling sesame seeds on sausage buns

(I ran out of red bean filling and used the leftover dough for sausage buns. Basically, you roll out each ball into a long rope. Twist the dough around a hotdog leaving only the ends peeking out. Leave it to proof like the rest.)

8. Bake in the oven for 12-15 mins or until golden brown on top.

Baked Red Bean Buns – Golden Brown and Delicious!

Baked red bean buns - golden brown and delicious!

A few tips for this recipe:

  • Use a scale (ok, not a tip but a directive–I’m still working on converting everyone!).
  • It’s much easier if you have an electric mixer but you can do it by hand (just don’t ask me how, cuz I have not done it like that before). If you have an electric mixer (I use a Kitchen Aid with dough hook), it takes about 10 minutes of kneading on medium speed (speed 4-5) to get the right texture on the dough.
  • Let your machine rest in the middle of kneading (it gets hot and I worry about overheating and killing my mixer).
  • Don’t walk away from your mixer–bread doughs are tough and will cause your machine to "walk" right over your kitchen counter!
  • Don’t let your dough rise too high (about 1 hour and double the size is best).
  • Get the red bean filling from a Japanese grocery store (they sell the kinds that come in a plastic bag). Choose this type over the ones in a can because the canned ones have a metallic aftertaste that ruins the red bean flavor.

Japanese Azuki Bean Paste

japanese azuki bean paste

  • Don’t get too greedy with the filling. On my first attempt, I wanted to make up for those lame buns I got at the store and overfilled them. Balance is key (the bread is yummy too so overfilling just takes away from that).

Balanced, Baked Red Bean Buns

Balanced and baked red bean buns

Enjoy!

Cheers, Annie

This post was entered in the Weekend Herb Blogging roundup, created by Kalyn of Kalyn’s Kitchen and hosted by Susan at the Well Seasoned Cook.

58 thoughts on “Baked Red Bean Buns”

  1. >OMG I’ve been wanting to make these for ages. I too have a serious dread of bread making, heck baking period, so I understand. Yours came out really nice. Congrats!

  2. >wonderful how to pictures. I was thinking about making some for book club, but couldn’t quite figure out how…so now, I can.

  3. >congratulations!! You pull it off beautifully. They look so good … I think you can sell them for $2 each 😉

  4. >Wow these looks awesome and so perfect…I have never tried my hand at baking breads…but looking at your bread I am tempted to try 🙂

  5. >Hi Annie! Great job, they are Beautiful buns! Likewise, I find bakery bought buns and bread are tad pricier than baking them at home. I am hoping I’d come around baking some in the very near future. I love all Chinese buns as well as the Japanese style “Anpan” with red bean paste that’s so soft, melt in your mouth sort. Would love to see it if you happen to have a recipe for it.

  6. >I love Chinese bread! I haven’t found a good recipe for it yet, and can’t wait to try out this one. 🙂

  7. >Honestly, I go to Asian bakeries and think how do they do it. They turn out so light and sweet. I always thought it was magic (joke.) But kinda, now I know…I am a little scared to attempt it, but I am very proud of you.

  8. >@Judyfoodie – thanks! The more you do it, the easier it gets.

    @Maybelle’s Mom – thanks, and good luck making them. I’m sure everyone will be wowed.

    @Noobcook – thanks! I don’t think we’d be comfortable charging so much.

    @usha – thanks! let the temptation take control 😉

    @pam – thanks

  9. >@Giff – I’m with you on that. I’m more of a griller / barbecuer than a baker.

    @audbelle – check out the anpan link at the bottom of the post.

    @alexander – we aim to please 😉

    @Regina – I’m sure you’ll make something great of it!

    @Manger la ville – I hope you do try it out!

  10. >You have nice buns. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself!) Seriously, they look delicious and even nicer than some of the ones you see at Chinese bakeries.

    Thanks for the tip on using bagged red bean paste instead of canned — I wouldn’t have thought about the flavor of tin from the latter source.

  11. >hi there, these look really good, my baking skills are not that great either hehe..but will definitely try this out, you make them look so easy 🙂 and thanks for the tip on using bagged red bean paste. I remember in Malaysia a loooong time ago, that they used beans that were black in colour for tha baos and those are much more fragrant than red beans..can’t find those anymore 🙁 according to the sellers, those bean paste require too much work?

  12. >To be very honest I dread baking I always avoid baking… My mom is a great baker she gave me a recipe for a simple cake I would dare bake it but after reading your post I wish I try it sooner or later and ofcourse your breads too.. Its definitely on my must do list…

  13. >In Kuching, there’s a bakery that sells yummy buns with fresh coconut filling. Its really good when you eat it hot. Hmm… I’m gonna see if I can try making it. Thanks for the inspiration!

  14. >Gawd, I feel a dim sum attack coming on. Somehow, my protein shake just didn’t cut it this morning.

    Thanks for sharing your great recipe with WHB!

  15. >@Mel – I’ve never been to Sarawak before. Someday…

    @Susan – thanks for hosting! You have a great blog; wonderful pictures!

  16. >I love filled red bean filled buns. Might try your recipe for coconut filled buns.
    You make it look so easy 🙂

  17. >@Jude – coconut bean buns sounds tasty. We just made some with kaya yesterday…

    @KandS – doitashimashite!

  18. >I’m still in the fearful “dont want to try baking” stage. I guess I just have to read more… Congratulations on overcoming your “dread.” 🙂

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