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.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

Add some cuts for a lovely appearance.

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

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?

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

Pineapple buns|chinasichuanfood.com

Pineapple Bun—Bolo Bao Recipe

Chinese pineapple bun-bolo bao
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: buns, Pineapple
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 Making 8 middle size pineapple buns
Calories: 318kcal
Author: Elaine

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 300 g 2 cups +1/4 cup bread flour , without sifting
  • 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

  • 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.

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. 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

  • 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.

baking

  • Pre-heat to 200 degree C (395 degree F) firstly. Brush egg wash on top.
  • 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.

Notes

The Nutrition Facts is based on every single bun.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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46 Comments

    1. Yes Holly,
      There is no pineapple in the dish. The name comes from the look. Chinese people love to name dishes with descriptions and imagination.

    1. Hi Maggie,
      I am always having those buns in Hong Kong style bakery. Now this is one of my favorite. Try it when you have time.

  1. Hi Elaine,

    Can I do this without a bread machine?
    you mentioned you used a bread machine in the introduction but not in the instructions part.

    VY

    1. Hi Vivian,
      Bread machine is just for kneading the dough.I do not use it for baking. So yes, you can do this without a bread machine.

    1. That’s a great suggestion Charli. I will search for an chance to learn it. Thanks for leaving me this note.

  2. Tried this recipe but am a little confused. My crust looks like creamed butter instead of dough so I had to pipe it on top of the bread. What should I do?

    Also, you said cream the butter and sugar, then later sift sugar in. You said we need 60g powdered sugar, does that mean 30g cream it with butter and 30g sift it with cake flour and milk powder?

    1. Hi Christel,
      Thanks for trying my recipe and your treasure feedback. If the crust looks too creamy, you will fridge it for a longer time for the butter to turn to solid state. And for the second question, I have update the recipe. We need 60g powdered sugar.

  3. Hi Elaine,
    Thanks for the awesome recipe and steps! I look forward to trying it! Quick question though, for the ingredients for the dough, when (if you do) add the egg liquid you listed? or is that for brushing? Thanks again!

    1. Hi Natt,
      Thanks for brining that to attention. I the egg for the dough should be mixed firstly with the flour. Look forward to your good news.