Soft tang zhong style buns are topped with cookie crust on top are dim sum favorites and now you can make this at home with this simple fool-proof recipe.
Po Lo Bao / Bo Lo Bao (Hong Kong Pineapple buns)
So here you go…pineapple buns with no pineapple! What ?!? I first had this at our favorite dim sum place and I thought it was the best thing on earth I could ever eat. I’m serious! I’m not even heartbroken that there’s no pineapple of any kind involved in this bun.
In Cantonese, these pineapple buns are called po lo bao. Po lo means pineapple. Why on earth do they call it pineapple bun? Is it because it looks like pineapple? Look at the photos, do they? I guess, this can be subjective. But that’s the reason why it is called pineapple buns. It looks like one! The soft buns against the cookie crust draped on top are simply amazing stuff. My daughter is very selective when it comes to bread or buns, but these….these….she could easily swallow down 2 or 3 without problems!!! And so, every time we go for a dim sum, we ALWAYS order these po lo bao. With that kind of love affair, it’s only fair to learn how to make them.
WHY YOU’LL LIKE THIS PO LO BAO RECIPE
1. THAT COOKIE CRUST!!!
I’ve tweaked the recipe several times throughout these years. While the cookie crust that I’ve tried were okay, they didn’t have nice even cracks like this latest version.
2. THE BUNS ARE SO SOFT AND AIRY
Tang Zhong method is the best for producing soft tearable bread and buns like this
HOW TO MAKE PO LO BAO FROM SCRATCH
1. I USE MY BASIC TANG ZHONG MILK BREAD/BUN RECIPE
I pretty much use this basic tang zhong bread/bun recipe for almost all of Asian-style baked buns here
2. PREPARE THE COOKIE CRUST
Flatten into a disc and wrap the dough with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
3. SHAPE THE BUN DOUGH
The dough has doubled in size after 1st proofing
Punch the dough down
Divide into 8 large pieces (or 16 small pieces if you prefer)
Stretch the edge of each piece and tuck it back into the middle to form a smooth round ball. Placed on a parchment paper (seam side down) about 2-inch apart
Let them proof again for another 40 minutes or until they double in size again
4. BUN + COOKIE DOUGH
Preheat oven to 390 F. 15 minutes before the end of 2nd proofing for the bun, get the cookie dough out from the fridge. The dough will be hard. Use a dough cutter to cut into 8 large pieces or 16 small pieces
Use your hand to knead the dough briefly and you can feel that the dough will soften slightly
Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out in between to cling wrap into a 4-inch circle
Drape the cookie circles gently on top of the proofed buns
Mix the egg yolk with water for egg wash. Gently brush it on top of the cookie and the buns. Repeat with the rest
5. BAKING TIME
IMPORTANT TIPS TO TAKE NOTE
1. USE BREAD FLOUR
I do not recommend using all-purpose flour to make the buns. They are not the same compared to using bread flour. Bread flour has higher gluten and also can hold more moisture and produce better, softer, and lofty bread and buns
2. CHILL THE COOKIE DOUGH
Make sure the cookie dough is chilled in the fridge for at least 1 hour. If you can chill longer it’s even better
3. YOU DON’T NEED TO SCORE THE COOKIE CRUST
In the past, I’ve used a knife to score the crust diagonally for diamond shape, but you don’t want to do that with this recipe. The cookie should have even cracks all over it as it bakes without needing to score
4. DON’T SKIP THE EGG WASH
The egg yolk wash contributes to the golden brown appearance
The buns are so soft and airy contrasting with the cookie crust on top! If you cut a warm bun in half and slide a slice of cold butter in there…oh my! You get the idea!
DID YOU MAKE THIS HONG KONG PO LO BAO RECIPE?
I love it when you guys snap a photo and tag to show me what you’ve made 🙂 Simply tag me @WhatToCookToday #WhatToCookToday on Instagram and I’ll be sure to stop by and take a peek for real!
Po Lo Bao / Bo Lo Bao (Hong Kong Pineapple Buns)
Ingredients
Tangzhong:
- 15 gr bread flour
- 90 ml whole milk
For the dough:
- 300 gr bread flour with at least 12% protein content
- 5 gr instant yeast
- 30 gr sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 15 gr milk powder
- 120 ml whole milk
- 50 gr egg weight is without the shell
- 40 gr softened butter
Cookie crust (updated):
- 55 gr butter softened
- 75 gr fine sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 15 gr egg yolk about 1 small egg yolk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 95 gr all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
Egg wash:
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ tsp milk
Filling: (optional)
- 1 recipe nai wong bao filling
Instructions
If you choose to fill the buns with nai wong bao custard:
- Prepare the nai wong bao filling. Divide into 8 or 16 small equal portion, depending on the size of the buns you want. Roll them into round balls, covered and keep refrigerated until ready to be used
Prepare tangzhong:
- Place milk and the bread flour in a small saucepan. Whisk until there is no more lumps. Cook this mixture over medium heat until it is thickened, about 5 minutes or less. Remove from the heat and let it cool down completely. You can also cover and keep it in the fridge to be used the next day. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days
Prepare the dough:
- If you keep tangzhong in the fridge, take it out to let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes or so. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the wet ingredients and the tang zhong you made earlier. Use a dough hook attachment to knead the dough on speed 2 until all the crumbly dough starts to come together into one mass, it may take about 2-3 minutes for this to happen. Don't be tempted to add any liquid. You may need to stop halfway and scrape the dough off the hook and the sides of the bowl and knead again for another 3 minutes
- Gradually add in the softened butter bit by bit. The dough will turn into a REAL sticky mess again because of the butter, just keep kneading and stop halfway and scrape the dough off the hook and bowl again and continue to knead until the butter is absorbed by the dough. IT WILL HAPPEN, don't worry! DO NOT be tempted to add any extra flour. You will get a shiny smooth dough that is very elastic. This may take about 10-15 minutes on speed 4. The dough must pass a windowpane test, meaning, when you stretch a small amount of dough thinly, it won't break and a light can pass through
- Place it in a lightly oiled bowl and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour. It will double in size. In wintertime, I use my oven bread proof function to do this.
Prepare the cookie crust (can be done the day before too):
- Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a mixing bowl and set aside. Add softened butter and mix with the dry ingredients into crumbles. Add the yolk and mix into a cookie dough. Flatten into a disc and wrap the dough with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
Shape the dough and 2nd proofing:
- Once the dough has doubled in size, punch the dough down and then roll it into a long log and cut into 8 large pieces or 16 smaller pieces, your choice. Stretch the edge of each piece and tuck it back into the middle to form a smooth round ball. If you want to fill the buns with custard, flatten it into about 4-5 inch circle and place the filling in the middle and gather the sides to enclose the buns. Roll it into a smooth round ball. Placed on a parchment paper (seam side down) about 2-inch apart. Let them proof again for another 40 minutes or until they double in size again
Put the bun + cookie crust together:
- Preheat oven to 390 F (200 C) 15 minutes before the end of 2nd proofing for the bun, get the cookie dough out from the fridge. The dough will be hard. Use a dough cutter to cut into 8 large pieces or 16 small pieces. Work with one at a time. Use your hand to knead the dough briefly and you can feel that the dough will soften slightly. Place the cookie dough in between two cling wrap. Use a rolling pin to roll it out into a 4-inch circle
- Drape the cookie dough gently on top of the proofed buns and gently peel the cling wrap off. Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough and proofed dough. Mix the egg yolk with water for egg wash. Gently brush it on top of the cookie and the buns. Repeat with the rest
- Place in the oven 3rd rack from the top and bake them for 15-18 minutes for large buns and about 12-15 minutes for smaller buns or until the cookie crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool down a little bit before serving. They are best served warm and can be kept up to 5 days at room temperature
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21 comments
Thank you for your detailed recipe. Tried the above recipe & it was a success…family members love it. Asking for more.
Hi Adele, I’m happy to know that 🙂