Pineapple Buns

When it comes to pineapple buns, above all else, freshness matters. The crispy, crackly golden-hued buns with crumbs barely accented with a sweet flavor are so delicious that they trick you into having one too many. 

And, FYI, the buns don’t taste or smell like pineapple.

Then why are pineapple buns called pineapple buns?

Even though there is no pineapple in them, they’re called so because of their topping. Each bun is crowned with a layer of dough that has the same checkered pattern as the skin of the tropical fruit. Also, the buns are yellow and sweet like the fruit.

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What are pineapple buns?

Pineapple bun recipe

Serving pineapple buns

More bun recipes

What are pineapple buns?

Pineapple buns are classic pastries that originated in Hong Kong and are commonly made during the Chinese New Year. The sweet baked buns are a staple in bakeries so much so that they’ve been made a part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage by the Hong Kong government. 

How to make pineapple buns?

Before I begin, I’d like to mention that the credit for this recipe goes to Lisa Lin and her blog, Healthy Nibbles. I followed the recipe to the T and that’s what I recommend to everyone. 

It's a bit longish and involved, but you’re using the most basic pantry items, nothing fancy. So, it’s not complicated. And if you have all the ingredients laid out beforehand, everything falls into line like clockwork.

That’s another tip I recommend for pineapple buns. Gather and measure every ingredient using a weighing scale. It’ll make the process so much faster and easier, so nothing goes amiss.

Step 1: make the bun dough

• Begin by making the tangzhong. Heat water and flour in a pan on a medium flame. Cook till the mixture takes on the consistency of a paste. 
• Take off the heat and let it cool further. 
• In the meantime, start working on the bun dough. First, whisk yeast,sugar, and milk in a bowl and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep it in a draft-free corner till it’s frothy.
• Next, sift flour and salt for the bun dough. Add the yeast milk mixture, condensed milk, egg, and melted butter, followed by the cooled tangzhong and activated yeast. 
• Knead till you have a smooth dough that is not sticky to the touch. I used my stand mixer. The kneading took about 8- 10minutes.
• Place it in a well-greased bowl, cover with a wet kitchen cloth, and let it rest till it doubles in size. 

Step 2: make the topping dough

• While the bun dough proofs, beat butter and superfine sugar with a whisk. Add the egg yolk, milk, and vanilla extract. 
• Whisk till you have a thickish mixture, then fold in the flour, baking powder, and turmeric. You don’t taste the turmeric, it just lends color, making the buns look pineapple yellow.
• Go in with your hands and then knead till a smooth dough forms.
• Shape it into a ball, put it in a bowl, cover it, and then let this topping dough sit until needed.

Step 3: shape the buns and second proof them

• When your bun dough has doubled in volume, take it out of the bowl and punch it down.
• Knead to get rid of any surplus trapped air. Then divide the dough into 12 equal balls.
• Place each ball on a lined baking tray. 
• Once more, cover with a kitchen towel and then let them rise to 1.5x their original size.

Step 4: shape the topping dough

• As you wait for the buns to second proof, work on the topping dough. 
• Split it into 12 equal portions. 
• Use your palms to shape each portion into a ball and then place it between two sheets of wax paper (or you can use two plastic sheets).
• Roll out each portion into a flat disc. 
• Make sure the size is smaller than the bun because the topping expands as it bakes. 

Step 5: assemble and bake the pineapple buns

• Gently drape the topping discs on each of the buns.
• Brush it with egg wash, made by mixing milk and an egg. 
• Slide the baking tray into a preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, till the top is burnished yellow and starts to look like pineapple skin. 
• Let them cool on the tray a tad, then transfer them to a wire rack. 

My tips to making and enjoying the fluffiest pineapple buns

There’s not much to making pineapple buns. Yes, it took some time, but it’s a labor of love that’ll turn your dining table into a spectacle of silence with only munching noises filling the air. 

To make bo lo bao (as they’re called in Chinese) soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, pay attention to the tangzhong. It’s the key. The flour and water paste make the sweet buns fluffier with the lightest crumb. 

How to eat pineapple buns?

Hands down, the buns are the best the day they are made. I can attest to that because my household had them both ways—fresh and reheated. They taste so much better when out of the oven, mildly sweet with a pillowy interior and a crunchy crown. 

We enjoyed them with just cups of tea. You can pair the buns with coffee, and they’re also wonderful with a pat of butter. If there are leftovers, which is not a likely scenario, reheat them in a preheated oven. 

Reasons to try pineapple buns

Softest buns 

With the crispiest crown 

That you can eat for lunch, snack or dinner 

And because tangzhong method will forever change the way you make bread!

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