Description
Stovetop custard cream buns bring silky Portuguese-inspired comfort straight to your kitchen. Sweet vanilla-infused pastry cream nestles inside pillowy enriched dough, promising a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with each tender, creamy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Flour and Protein):
- 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) all-purpose or cake flour
- 1 egg yolk
Leavening and Sweeteners:
- 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon white granulated or castor sugar
- 2 tablespoons sugar (for custard)
Liquids and Fats:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) warm water
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon canola or sunflower oil
Flavor Enhancers and Thickeners:
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a foundation for the dough.
- Warm milk, water, and oil in a separate container, then gradually incorporate the liquid into the dry ingredients, forming a cohesive mixture.
- Vigorously massage the dough for approximately 5 minutes until achieving a silky, elastic texture.
- Drape a clean cloth over the dough and allow it to expand and rise in a sheltered, tepid environment for one hour.
- Gently heat milk in a saucepan until it reaches a warm temperature, avoiding boiling.
- Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a separate bowl, creating a smooth custard base.
- Carefully stream the warm milk into the egg mixture, continuously whisking to prevent curdling.
- Transfer the liquid back to the saucepan, cooking over medium heat while stirring until the mixture thickens and becomes pudding-like.
- Remove from heat, infuse with vanilla extract, and allow the custard to cool completely.
- Deflate the risen dough with gentle kneading for 3 minutes to release trapped air.
- Partition the dough into 12 uniform portions, rolling each into a circular shape.
- Position a dollop of cooled custard on one half of each dough circle, then fold and seal the edges meticulously.
- Let the assembled buns rest and slightly proof for 15 minutes.
- Prepare a non-stick pan with a delicate oil coating over low heat.
- Carefully place the buns in the pan, cooking for 10 minutes on one side until golden.
- Flip the buns and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, ensuring even browning.
- Transfer the cooked buns to a cooling rack, allowing them to settle slightly.
- Optionally, dust with a light snowfall of powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- Prepare all ingredients beforehand to ensure a smooth baking process and minimize kitchen stress.
- Use warm (not hot) liquid ingredients to activate yeast correctly without killing it, creating soft and fluffy dough.
- Constant whisking prevents custard from burning and ensures a smooth, creamy texture without lumps.
- Low and slow stovetop cooking helps achieve golden-brown buns with perfectly cooked interiors.
- Sealing bun edges tightly prevents custard from leaking during cooking, maintaining a clean and attractive appearance.
- Allow buns to rest before and after cooking to develop better flavor and achieve ideal texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg