Soft Fluffy Chinese Steamed Buns with Coconut Filling

Soft and fluffy Chinese steamed buns are filled with sweetened grated coconut filling (inti kelapa).

BAKPAO ISI KELAPA

The mention of this steamed buns with sweet coconut filling reminds me of childhood. Dad bought these steamed buns with coconut filling so often because they were his favorite. Coconut is not really Chinese, but this version of steamed buns with coconut filling is popular in Indonesia. We call it bakpao (steamed buns) isi (filled with) kelapa (grated coconut meat in this case).

TYPE OF COCONUT TO USE

I usually get the frozen unsweetened grated coconut from the Asian grocery store. This type is considered “wet” with nice coconut aroma. You can also use dry unsweetened coconut flakes or dessicated coconut. These are dry and so need to be rehydrated with some coconut milk as the coconut flavor is not as strong anymore.

THE COCONUT FILLING

There are two different versions of coconut fillings I know of. The first one is cooked with regular white fine sugar and has that pale white appearance. The second one is cooked with Indonesian palm sugar (gula Jawa) or we call it coconut sugar here. The second version is much darker in color, dark brown to be exact, because of the palm sugar. I love both versions equally. My version here is the one with coconut sugar or we call it inti kelapa.

WHY YOU WILL LIKE THIS RECIPE

1. The steamed buns dough is much quicker to make and soooo soft !!!
I used to proof the dough twice. Now, I only proof the steamed buns dough once and that doesn’t even take that long
2. Easy to make coconut filling
The filling is really very easy to make without much fuss. The level of sweetness can be adjusted to your liking

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT FILLING (INTI KELAPA)

Mix all the ingredients for the filling. Place this over a medium-size skillet and stir-fry for over medium heat for about 2 minutes or so. The sugar will start to dissolve and the mixture will be “wetter”. Stir fry again until the mixture is dry.

Sprinkle in all-purpose flour and stir to mix

Remove from heat and let it cool down completely and then roll into round balls for easier wrapping

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT STEAMED BUNS

1. START WITH BASIC STEAMED BUNS DOUGH AND COCONUT FILLING
I used the same basic soft and fluffy steamed buns recipe in this recipe too.

2. WRAP AND SHAPE
Flatten the dough with your palm and then use a rolling pin to roll it out to form a circle about 4-5 inches, with a slightly thicker middle part

For round shape: Place about 1 to 2 Tbsp of coconut filling in the middle and gather the edge to enclose into a round ball and place the seam side down

For flower pattern: Create a fold around the edge and then pinch to seal in the middle

3. PROOF ONLY ONCE
Let the shaped buns proof until about 50% double its original size at room temperature or warmer place in the winter. They don’t have to double in size. This may take about 15-20 minutes, but please don’t go by the time, just observe to make sure the buns have puffed up to half its original size before steaming or the buns will be tough. Don’t overproof them as well.

4. STEAM
Bring water in the steamer to a boil first, then lower the heat to medium. Wrap the lid of your steamer with a kitchen towel to prevent moisture dripping on your buns creating burn spots. Place the buns inside the steamer. Close the lid but leave about 1/4-inch of gap to let some steam escapes during steaming. Steam for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and wait 5 minute before opening the lid. Then transfer to a cooling rack to prevent the bottom from getting wet and soggy

DID YOU MAKE THIS COCONUT STEAMED BUNS RECIPE?

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CHECK OUT THIS OTHER STEAMED BUNS RECIPES

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LONGEVITY PEACH STEAMED BUNS
SOFT FLUFFY CHINESE WHOLE WHEAT STEAMED BUNS
SPIRAL MANTOU
The recipe was originally published in 2013 and has been updated with an improved recipe and new photos.

Soft Fluffy Chinese Steamed Buns with Coconut Filling

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 18 minutes mins

Servings 15 medium buns

5 from 5 reviews

REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

0.5x1x2x

Dough:

• ▢ 180 gr all-purpose flour 1 cup + 5 Tbsp, plus more for dusting
• ▢ 180 gr cake flour 1 cup + 5 1/2 Tbsp
• ▢ 4 gr instant yeast
• ▢ 60 gr sugar 5 Tbsp, you can add more or less to your taste
• ▢ 1 Tbsp cooking oil
• ▢ 200 ml milk or water to start with ( most likely you will need to add more) use non-dairy milk for vegan version

Coconut filling:

• ▢ 200 gr grated unsweetened coconut or use unsweetened coconut flakes. See notes 2
• ▢ 150 gr coconut sugar or more if you like it sweeter. See notes 1
• ▢ 150 ml water
• ▢ ¼ tsp salt
• ▢ 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions

 

Preparing the coconut filling (can be prepared one day ahead):

• Mix all the ingredients for the filling. Place this over a medium-size skillet and stir-fry for over medium heat for about 2 minutes or so. The sugar will start to dissolve and the mixture will be "wetter". Stir fry again until the mixture is dry. Sprinkle in 1 Tbsp of all-purpose flour and stir to mix. The filling will be more "sticky" and easier to roll into balls for wrapping later on. Remove from heat and let it cool down completely before wrapping

Preparing the dough with a machine:

• Place the flour, instant yeast, salt, sugar, and cooking oil in a mixing bowl. If you are using a stand mixer, use a dough hook attachment. Start on lowest speed an gradually add in milk or water. You may need more than 150 ml or not. Add more teaspoon by teaspoon until the dough comes together. Increase the speed to 2 and continue to knead for 10-12 minutes until the dough is very smooth and stretchy
• Preparing the dough by hands:
• Place the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and cooking oil in a mixing bowl. Mix until you get a rough dough (it's not going to be smooth yet). Cover and rest it for 15 minutes. Then go back and knead it. You'll be surprised by how easier it is to knead it now. Knead until the dough is smooth and pliable, about 10-15 minutes. At any point during kneading, you can always stop and rest the dough if you find it hard to knead. This is to relax the gluten. Then go back to knead again and you'll be surprised by the difference it makes by just resting the dough before kneading again. It's easier for you too
• Resting the dough:
• Cover and rest the dough for 15 minutes. This is not to proof the dough. It shouldn't double in size. This is to relax the gluten for easier shaping and rolling the dough

Shaping:

• Lightly dust your work surface with cake flour. Not too much. If you use a silicon pastry mat, you may not even need to dust with flour. Divide the dough into 15 equal portions. Keeping the dough covered and work with one dough at a time
• Then roll the dough into a smooth round ball in between the palm of your hand or as I did in the video. REALLY make sure the dough is smooth. Flatten the dough with your palm and then use a rolling pin to roll it out to form a circle about 4-5 inches, with a slightly thicker middle part
• FOR ROUND SHAPE: Place about 1 to 2 Tbsp of coconut filling in the middle and gather the edge to enclose into a round ball and place the seam side down. Cup the dough with both palms and move the dough in a circular motion to shape it taller. This part is important so your steamed buns come out tall instead of spreading to the side after steaming
• Place on a piece of parchment paper. Lightly dab the surface of the bun with some milk using your finger to smooth the surface. Loosely cover with a saran wrapper to prevent drying. Work with another dough and do the same
• IF YOU WANT TO CREATE A FLOWER PATTERN: Place the filling in the middle. Create a fold around the edge and then pinch to seal in the middle. Cup the dough with both palms and move the dough in a circular motion to shape it taller. This part is important so your steamed buns come out tall instead of spreading to the side after steaming

Proofing:

• Let the dough rise at room temperature or at a warm place.  If it's winter where you are, you can use your oven "bread proof" function to let them proof in there, or simply turn on your oven to the lowest temperature and then turn off and after 15 minutes, place the shaped buns in there to let them proof. They won't necessarily double in size, but at least puff up to about 50% of the original size. This may take about 30 mins to 1 hour at a warm temperature. Don't go by the time however. When you gently push on the dough it should bounce back gradually. If it springs right back up, it needs to be proofed a bit longer. The dough should feel noticeably lighter when you lift it up. If you have all these signs, your buns have been properly proofed

Steaming:

• Most likely your steamer won't be able to accommodate steaming all buns at one go. You may need to steam in 2-3 batches, which means, the rest of the batches will sit longer and continue to proof while waiting for the steamer. Not good for the buns! Here's what you can do: Make sure the cover them with plastic wrap and then place them in the refrigerator to slow down the yeast activity or halt it all together until they are ready to be steamed
  
• Bring water in the steamer to a boil first, then lower the heat to medium. Wrap the lid of your steamer with a kitchen towel to prevent moisture dripping on your buns creating burn spots. Place the buns inside the steamer. Close the lid but leave about 1/4-inch of gap to let some steam escapes during steaming. Steam for 15 minutes
• Turn off the heat. Do not open the lid of the steamer. Let the buns sit there for 5 minutes like this. The buns will not sink or wrinkle due to the sudden change in temperature. Transfer to cooling rack to let them cool down so the bottom of the buns won't be wet and soggy

Storing:

• If you make extra and plan to store them, once the steamed buns have cooled down, place them on a baking sheet not touching each other and put them inside the freezer for 1 hour then transfer to a freezer bag

Reheating:

• They can be reheated in the steamer without thawing. Steam over high heat for 5 minutes

RECOMMEDED TOOLS

Kitchen Aid Standmixer

Dough Hook Attachment

Food Steamer

Marv's Recipe Notes

1. You can add more sugar if you like it sweeter
2. If using dry coconut flakes, add 100-150 ml of coconut milk when you cook the coconut filling

*Nutrition facts are just estimates and calculated using online tools*

Nutrition Facts

Soft Fluffy Chinese Steamed Buns with Coconut Filling

Serving Size

 

1 bun

Amount per Serving

Calories

242

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

10

g

15

%

Saturated Fat

 

8

g

50

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Cholesterol

 

1

mg

0

%

Sodium

 

71

mg

3

%

Potassium

 

118

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

35

g

12

%

Fiber

 

3

g

13

%

Sugar

 

12

g

13

%

Protein

 

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

 

22

IU

0

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

23

mg

2

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Check out this Soft and Fluffy No-Yeast Chinese Steamed Buns. These are so good and super easy to make!