Assorted Sweet Yeast Buns
Assorted Sweet Yeast Buns
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm milk, 105-115°F
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
For the Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
For Assorted Toppings and Fillings
- 1/2 cup fruit jam, any flavor, as needed for filling
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, as needed for topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling, as needed
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, granulated sugar (1/4 cup), and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Add the large egg and melted butter to the yeast mixture, stirring until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, or use a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 6-8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should pass the windowpane test.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Lightly grease a clean large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turning once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 90 min
- 6
Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release the air. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. For 'Assorted Buns', you can shape them in various ways:
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
For Plain Buns or Sesame Seed Buns: Roll each piece into a smooth ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If making sesame seed buns, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds now.
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
For Flower-Shaped Buns with Filling: Flatten a dough ball into a disk. Place about 1 teaspoon of fruit jam in the center. Gather the edges of the dough around the filling and pinch firmly to seal. Place seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You can arrange several filled buns in a round pan to create a pull-apart flower shape.
⏱️ 10 min
- 9
For Animal-Shaped Dough Balls: Shape dough balls into desired animal forms (e.g., small ears for bears). Use small pieces of dough for details. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
⏱️ 15 min
- 10
Cover the shaped buns loosely with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let them rise again in a warm place for 30-45 minutes, or until visibly puffy.
⏱️ 45 min
- 11
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining large egg and water for the egg wash.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375
- 12
Just before baking, gently brush the tops of all buns (except those already topped with sesame seeds) with the egg wash. For plain or animal-shaped buns, you can sprinkle with a little granulated sugar if desired.
⏱️ 3 min
- 13
Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Baking time may vary depending on the size and shape of the buns. If baking multiple sheets, rotate halfway through.
⏱️ 22 min•🌡️ 375
- 14
Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your homemade assortment of sweet yeast buns!
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Assorted Sweet Yeast Buns
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm milk, 105-115°F
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
For the Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
For Assorted Toppings and Fillings
- 1/2 cup fruit jam, any flavor, as needed for filling
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, as needed for topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling, as needed
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, granulated sugar (1/4 cup), and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Add the large egg and melted butter to the yeast mixture, stirring until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, or use a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 6-8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should pass the windowpane test.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Lightly grease a clean large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turning once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 90 min - 6
Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release the air. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. For 'Assorted Buns', you can shape them in various ways:
⏱️ 5 min - 7
For Plain Buns or Sesame Seed Buns: Roll each piece into a smooth ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If making sesame seed buns, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds now.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
For Flower-Shaped Buns with Filling: Flatten a dough ball into a disk. Place about 1 teaspoon of fruit jam in the center. Gather the edges of the dough around the filling and pinch firmly to seal. Place seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You can arrange several filled buns in a round pan to create a pull-apart flower shape.
⏱️ 10 min - 9
For Animal-Shaped Dough Balls: Shape dough balls into desired animal forms (e.g., small ears for bears). Use small pieces of dough for details. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
⏱️ 15 min - 10
Cover the shaped buns loosely with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let them rise again in a warm place for 30-45 minutes, or until visibly puffy.
⏱️ 45 min - 11
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining large egg and water for the egg wash.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375 - 12
Just before baking, gently brush the tops of all buns (except those already topped with sesame seeds) with the egg wash. For plain or animal-shaped buns, you can sprinkle with a little granulated sugar if desired.
⏱️ 3 min - 13
Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Baking time may vary depending on the size and shape of the buns. If baking multiple sheets, rotate halfway through.
⏱️ 22 min•🌡️ 375 - 14
Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your homemade assortment of sweet yeast buns!
⏱️ 10 min