Hong Kong Style Chinese pineapple bun also known as Bolo Bao provides a really strong contrasted taste between the sugar butter crust and soft Asian style bread. I was not a bread lover until I moved to the city of Shenzhen, which is quite near to Hong Kong. Hong Kong fusion bakery is quite appealing and additive to me.

My daughter loves all kinds of bread, so I have developed several bread recipes; from the very basic milk bread, to baked char siu bao.  With the assistance of a stand mixer, making bread at home is quite easy and funny.
Pineapple buns should be served warm when the topping is still crispy. You can re-heat the bun at 150 degree C for 5-8 minutes. A popular serving method is to cut a line in the middle and add a slab of high quality of butter.

Steps

To prepare the dough for the bread: In a stand mixer, add all the ingredients for the dough expect butter. Knead for 8-10 minutes at low speed. Then place softened butter in , use lowest speed to knead for 1-2 minutes until the butter is well combined with the dough. Speed up the stand mixer and knead another 10 minutes until  the dough becomes quite elastic.

Place the dough in a warm place, covered and wait until at least 2 times in size.

To prepare the crust topping: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter until smooth. Add sugar and continue to beat until fluffy.  Add egg liquid and shift cake flour.  Mix everything well. Place in refrigerator for around 30 minutes until slightly hardened. So you can handle the crust dough easily soon.

Assemble the bun

On a clean surface, knead the dough again for minutes until the air is completely pinched out. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Covered and rest for 30 minutes until 1.5 times bigger.

Divide the crust dough into 8 portions too. Roll each one to a round wrapper. The wrapper can be a slightly sticky and you can roll it with the help of plastic wrappers. Place one wrapper on the board, then flat the crust portion, cover with another plastic wrapper.

Cover the crust over the bun (from the top side).

Add some cuts for a lovely appearance.

Pre-heat over 200 degree C firstly and bake for 8 minutes. Then turn the oven to 180 degree C and bake for another 10 minutes. Lovely?

5 from 1 vote

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Pineapple Bun—Bolo Bao Recipe

Prep Time

2 hrs

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

2 hrs 20 mins

 

Chinese pineapple bun-bolo bao

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: buns, Pineapple

Servings: 8 Making 8 middle size pineapple buns

Calories: 318 kcal

Author: Elaine

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 300 g 2 cups +1/4 cup without shirting bread flour
• 45 g 3 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 4 g 1 +1/2 tsp. instant yeast
• 30 g 2 tbsp. egg liquid
• 170 g around 170ml milk
• 18 g 1+1/3 tbsp. unsalted butter

For the crust topping

• 105 g cake flour
• 60 g unsalted butter
• 48 g powdered sugar
• 18 g egg liquid

Egg wash

• 1 tbsp. egg liquid + 1 tbsp. water

Instructions

dough for the bread

1. In a stand mixer, add all the ingredients for the dough expect butter. Knead for 8-10 minutes at low speed. Then place softened butter in , use lowest speed to knead for 1-2 minutes until the butter is well combined with the dough. Speed up the stand mixer and knead another 10 minutes until the dough becomes quite elastic.
2. Place the dough in a warm place, covered and wait until at least 2 times in size.

Crust topping

1. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter until smooth. Add sugar and continue to beat until fluffy. Mix egg liquid and shift cake flour. Mix everything well. Place in refrigerator for around 30 minutes until slightly hardened. So you can handle the crust dough easily soon.

Assemble the bun

1. On a clean surface, knead the dough again for minutes until the air is completely pinched out. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Covered and rest for 30 minutes until 1.5 times bigger.
2. Divide the crust dough into 8 portions too. Roll each one to a round wrapper. The wrapper can be a slightly sticky and you can roll it with the help of plastic wrappers. Place one wrapper on the board, then flat the crust portion, cover with another plastic wrapper.
3. Cover the crust over the bun (from the top side).
4. Add some cuts for a lovely appearance.

baking

1. Pre-heat to 200 degree C (395 degree F) firstly. Brush egg wash on top.
2. Brushing Bake for 8 minutes firstly and then turn the temperature of oven to 180 degree C (355 degree F) and bake for another 10 minutes.

Recipe Notes

The Nutrition Facts is based on every single bun.

Nutrition Facts

Pineapple Bun—Bolo Bao Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 318 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 29mg 10%

Sodium 101mg 4%

Potassium 83mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 49g 16%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 12g

Protein 7g 14%

Vitamin A 6.8%

Calcium 3.3%

Iron 3.2%

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