Reward yourself with these freshly baked buns that are so easy to make and bake.
Anytime Is Bread Time
Bread can be a wonderful starter to a meal or a tantalising afternoon snack. There’s nothing better than the aroma of freshly baked bread, and these buns are so appetising that you will be tempted to eat more than just one. They can be served with navel orange marmalade, Nutella or even Vegemite. With the aroma still lingering in the kitchen, it is so rewarding to sit down with a good magazine, sip a cup of coffee and devour these freshly baked buns. So, how to make soft and fluffy sweet buns?
There are two variations of sweet buns with this recipe. Half of the recipe can be used to make plain sweet buns, while a coconut topping can be added to the other half.
Cook Time
Prep time: 15 – 20 min
Cook time: 15 – 20 min
Proof time: A few hours
Ready in: A few hours
Yields: 12 large buns
Ingredients
475 grams plain flour
4 tablespoons caster sugar
3 tablespoons milk powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dry yeast
1 egg, lightly beaten
150 millilitres lukewarm water
40 grams butter, melted
Fine desiccated coconut, for topping
Additional 25 grams plain flour, to be cooked first with 125 millilitres water
Photo Guide
The ingredients for sweet bread bunsMake this thickened flour mixture first and let it cool.Put dough in a greased bowl to rise.The dough has now doubled in size.Divide the dough into small portions, leave to double in size.The dough is ready for the oven.The sweet bread buns are ready to be served.A soft and fluffy sweet bread bun is your reward!
Instructions
Cook 25 grams of plain flour in 125 millilitres of water until the mixture thickens. Set this cooked flour mixture aside to cool while you prepare the other ingredients.
To prepare the dough, sift the flour, milk powder, caster sugar and salt into a bowl.
Add in dry yeast and mix well. Make a well in the flour mixture. Add in the beaten egg, cooked flour mixture, and butter and mix well.
Gradually add in water and mix to form a soft dough. If you have a KitchenAid flour mixer, transfer the dough to the mixer and mix for 5 minutes on low speed until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
Otherwise, transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 20 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
First Proofing
Roll the dough into a big ball and put it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and leave it in a warm place. Let the dough rise until it doubles in size. This should take at least one hour on cooler days. The dough must double in size; otherwise, the buns will not be fluffy and soft!
Second Proofing
When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down with your fist. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for another 10 minutes. Alternatively, use the KitchenAid mixer on medium speed to knead again for 5 minutes.
Then divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll each portion into a ball.
Place the dough portions on a baking tray. Leave the tray in a warm place until the dough portions have doubled in size.
Baking The Bread Buns
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Brush the top of each bun with lightly beaten egg or milk.
Optional step: If you’d like to make sweet buns with coconut topping, sprinkle desiccated coconut on top of the buns.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the top of the bread buns is golden brown. Remove the tray from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.
Enjoy while still warm with lemon jam, orange marmalade, Nutella or Vegemite. They’re delicious plain, as well!
Coconut-topped dough after it has doubled in size
In the above photo, I made nine buns with coconut topping and left the rest plain.
