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Gai Mei Bao in a Plate
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Gai Mei Bao – Chinese Cocktail Buns – Chinese Coconut Buns

Chinese Coconut Buns ( Chinese Cocktail Buns ) were originally created in Hong Kong. These Gai Mei Bao have coconut and cream along with tutti frutti as its filling making it a very delicious bun.
Prep Time2 hours 45 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time3 hours 10 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Kids Friendly, Snacks
Cuisine: Chinese
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 6 Buns
Calories: 403kcal

Equipment

  • bowl
  • spatula
  • Oven
  • pan
  • Wire rack

Ingredients

FOR THE DOUGH -

  • 2 cups Bread flour Can be substituted with all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon Instant yeast
  • ¼ cup Sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Warm milk
  • to brush the shaped buns Milk

FOR THE FILLING –

  • 50 gms Butter Softened
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoon All purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon Milk powder
  • cup Grated fresh coconut
  • 3 tablespoon Tutti frutti Optional

FOR THE TOPPING –

  • 2 tablespoon All purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon Sugar
  • 25 gms Butter Softened
  • 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds

FOR THE GLAZE –

  • 1 tablespoon Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Warm water

Instructions

TO MAKE THE DOUGH –

  • I made the dough in my food processor. Combine the dry ingredients and pulse it for couple of minutes.
  • Now add the warm milk and knead until smooth and soft dough forms. Add the milk in batches as we might not need all the 1 cup of it.
  • Place the dough in a large greased bowl and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1 ½ hours or until doubled in volume.

TO MAKE THE FILLING –

  • Mix all the ingredients mentioned under the filling into a smooth paste.

TO MAKE THE TOPPING –

  • Mix all the ingredients mentioned in the list into a smooth paste and transfer this paste into a piping bag. I used a zip lock bag as a piping bag. I made a small hole in a corner and then used it to draw the lines on the buns.

TO SHAPE AND BAKE THE BUNS –

  • Once the dough has doubled in volume, punch it down gently and then divide into 6 equal parts.
  • Roll the balls into an oval shape. Place a tablespoon of filling in the middle of the dough and then bring the two long sides to the center and pinch it well to seal the filling.
  • Now bring the top and the bottom to the center and then pinch to seal. Sealing the buns well is very important; otherwise the filling will begin to ooze out.
  • Place the shaped buns on a parchment lined baking sheet, seam side down.
  • Let the buns rise again for the second time for about 45 minutes or until fluffed up.
  • Brush the buns with milk liberally.
  • Draw two long lines over the buns with the topping. Sprinkle the sesame seeds.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F and bake the buns for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Once the buns come out of the oven, mix the glaze ingredients together and then brush the buns right away with the glaze.
  • Serve Gai Mei Bao warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 643IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg