Steamed Bunny Buns with Sweet Black Sesame Filling
Steamed Bunny Buns with Sweet Black Sesame Filling
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For the Sweet Black Sesame Filling
- 1/2 cup black sesame powder
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Instructions
- 1
In a measuring cup, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Mix with chopsticks or a small spoon until well combined. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is activated.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the all-purpose flour. Pour the activated yeast mixture into the flour. Attach the dough hook and mix on low speed until a cohesive dough forms, about 5-7 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl and be smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
⏱️ 27 min
- 3
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, combine the black sesame powder and 1/4 cup of sugar. Add the coconut oil. Mix thoroughly with a spoon until all ingredients are well combined and form a cohesive, crumbly mixture.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Lightly flour a clean work surface. Remove the risen dough from the bowl and roll it into a long log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Use a cleaver or knife to cut the log into approximately 15-18 equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a small, smooth ball.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Take one dough ball and flatten it slightly with your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough ball into a flat, round wrapper, about 3-4 inches in diameter. Aim for edges that are thinner than the center. Place a spoonful (about 1-2 teaspoons) of the sweet black sesame filling into the center of the rolled dough wrapper. Gather the edges of the dough around the filling and pinch them together firmly to seal the bun. Shape the sealed bun into an oval.
⏱️ 15 min
- 6
To create the bunny shape (optional): Hold the oval bun in your hand. Using kitchen scissors, make two small cuts at one end of the oval bun to create two 'ears'. Pinch and gently shape the 'ears' slightly to make them stand up. Repeat for all buns.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Line a bamboo steamer basket (or a metal steamer with parchment paper) with parchment paper. Place the bunny-shaped buns onto the parchment paper, ensuring there is enough space (about 1 inch) between each bun to prevent them from sticking together as they expand during steaming. You may need to steam in batches.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Fill a pot with about 1-2 inches of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Place the bamboo steamer basket over the pot of boiling water. Cover with the lid and steam for 10-12 minutes, or until the buns are cooked through, fluffy, and slightly expanded. Serve warm.
⏱️ 15 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Steamed Bunny Buns with Sweet Black Sesame Filling
For the Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For the Sweet Black Sesame Filling
- 1/2 cup black sesame powder
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Instructions
- 1
In a measuring cup, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Mix with chopsticks or a small spoon until well combined. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is activated.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the all-purpose flour. Pour the activated yeast mixture into the flour. Attach the dough hook and mix on low speed until a cohesive dough forms, about 5-7 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl and be smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
⏱️ 27 min - 3
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, combine the black sesame powder and 1/4 cup of sugar. Add the coconut oil. Mix thoroughly with a spoon until all ingredients are well combined and form a cohesive, crumbly mixture.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Lightly flour a clean work surface. Remove the risen dough from the bowl and roll it into a long log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Use a cleaver or knife to cut the log into approximately 15-18 equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a small, smooth ball.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Take one dough ball and flatten it slightly with your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough ball into a flat, round wrapper, about 3-4 inches in diameter. Aim for edges that are thinner than the center. Place a spoonful (about 1-2 teaspoons) of the sweet black sesame filling into the center of the rolled dough wrapper. Gather the edges of the dough around the filling and pinch them together firmly to seal the bun. Shape the sealed bun into an oval.
⏱️ 15 min - 6
To create the bunny shape (optional): Hold the oval bun in your hand. Using kitchen scissors, make two small cuts at one end of the oval bun to create two 'ears'. Pinch and gently shape the 'ears' slightly to make them stand up. Repeat for all buns.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Line a bamboo steamer basket (or a metal steamer with parchment paper) with parchment paper. Place the bunny-shaped buns onto the parchment paper, ensuring there is enough space (about 1 inch) between each bun to prevent them from sticking together as they expand during steaming. You may need to steam in batches.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Fill a pot with about 1-2 inches of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Place the bamboo steamer basket over the pot of boiling water. Cover with the lid and steam for 10-12 minutes, or until the buns are cooked through, fluffy, and slightly expanded. Serve warm.
⏱️ 15 min