Coconut Buns (椰絲包)

Step 1

Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with oil. Set it aside.

Step 2

In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the milk in the microwave on high for about 30 to 35 seconds. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the milk. It should be somewhere around 100ºF to 115ºF (37ºC to 46ºC). If the milk is too hot, quickly whisk the milk and let it cool for several minutes.

Step 3

Add the sugar and yeast to the milk. Stir to hydrate the yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. After 5 minutes, you should see a layer of foam on the top (an indication that the yeast is active).

Step 4

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the bread flour, powdered milk, salt, foamy milk/yeast mixture, melted butter, and egg.

Step 5

Fit the mixer with the dough hook. Mix the dough on low until you don’t see any loose flour on the sides of the bowl. This should take 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then, increase the speed to medium-low and work the dough for 8 minutes. The dough should feel supple and moist but not overly sticky. If it is very sticky, add another tablespoon of flour and work the flour into the dough. (See note 4)

Step 6

Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a surface and knead a few times. If the dough is feeling tacky, lightly dust the surface with flour and continue kneading a few times.

Step 7

Shape the dough into a ball and place inside the greased mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp towel (or a silicone lid) and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until the dough doubles in size.

Step 8

In a bowl, mix the coconut, sugar, and turmeric. Then, add the melted butter, egg yolk, and vanilla bean paste. Mix everything together until combined.

Step 9

Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill the filling while the dough rises (about 20 to 30 minutes). If you leave the bowl inside the fridge uncovered for over an hour, the filling can harden. Either keep an eye on the time or cover the bowl before refrigerating.

Step 10

Stack 2 large baking sheets of the same size (13” x 18” or larger). Line the top sheet with parchment paper. Stacking the baking sheets ensures that the bottoms of the buns won’t brown too much. (See note 5 for more information)

Step 11

Take the chilled filling out of the refrigerator and divide it into 6 pieces of about 25 to 28 grams each (about 1 1/2 tablespoons). I usually use a medium cookie scoop and measure out a scant scoopful of filling for each piece.

Step 12

Punch down the dough to release excess air. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, about 112 to 115 grams each. Shape the dough into an oval. Cover 5 pieces of dough with a towel while you shape the first bun.

Step 13

Roll out one piece of dough until you get a rectangle of about 10 to 10.5 inches long and 4 to 4.5 inches wide. I don’t flour the surface before I roll out the dough. This way, the dough grips onto the surface as I roll it out without shrinking back significantly.

Step 14

Take 1 piece of the filling and spread it over half of the rectangle (along the long edge). See photos in the blog post or the video below for reference. Pick up the side of the dough without filling and fold it over the half with the filling. You should now have a long and thin rectangle. It’s okay if the rectangle doesn’t look perfect at this stage.

Step 15

Using a knife, make 2 or 3 long cuts inside the rectangle, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch border along the short side of the rectangle uncut. The border ensures that the strips are attached together, making the next step easier. By now, you should have created 3 or 4 strips inside the rectangle. It’s up to you how many cuts you want to make as I think the finished buns look very similar either way.

Step 16

Grab a hold of the short ends of the dough and twist the dough a few times. Then tie the dough into a knot (see video below or photos in the blog post for reference).

Step 17

Transfer the knotted dough onto the lined baking sheet. I also like to make sure that some of the coconut filling is exposed by lightly pulling apart some of the layers of the twisted bun. Continue shaping the remaining pieces of dough into buns.

Step 18

Cover the knotted buns with plastic wrap and let the buns rise for an hour, until they double in size.

Step 19

When the second rise is nearly done, preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Position an oven rack to the center position.

Step 20

Whisk an egg with a tablespoon of milk. Gently apply a thin layer of egg wash over the risen buns. (See note 6 for what to do with leftover eggs).

Step 21

Place the coconut buns in the oven and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until they are golden at the top. I like to rotate the baking sheet after 15 minutes to ensure even browning.

Step 22

Take the coconut buns out of the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. These coconut buns are best consumed while they’re still a little warm.

Step 23

I usually store the baked buns in a container and leave them out on my counter. They should keep for 2 or 3 days. If you don't think you can finish the coconut buns within 2 or 3 days but will consume them within a week, store the coconut buns in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat the buns, heat them in the microwave on high for 10 to 20 seconds. This is the easiest way to reheat the coconut buns while maintaining their soft texture.

Step 24

Freezing: If you want to keep the buns for longer than a week, freeze the baked buns and store them in a freezer bag. When you are ready to heat them, bake the frozen buns at 350ºF for 10 to 12 minutes. You do not need to thaw them beforehand.