Sweet Red Bean Buns (Anpan) – Homemade Delight (Makes 8)
Sweet Red Bean Buns (Anpan) – Homemade Delight (Makes 8)
Beginner’s Guide to Making Delicious Red Bean Buns at Home
I tried making red bean buns for the first time! This recipe yields 8 buns. I was happy that it wasn’t as difficult as I expected. Enjoy the joy of baking!
Dough Ingredients- 240g Bread Flour
- 45g Sugar
- 4g Salt
- 3g Instant Dry Yeast
- 1 Large Egg
- 100ml Lukewarm Water
- 40g Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
Filling- 280g Sweet Red Bean Paste
For Assembly & Baking- Egg Wash (for brushing) – as needed
- Black Sesame Seeds (for garnish) – as needed
- 280g Sweet Red Bean Paste
For Assembly & Baking- Egg Wash (for brushing) – as needed
- Black Sesame Seeds (for garnish) – as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the bread flour (240g). Sprinkle the sugar (45g), salt (4g), and instant dry yeast (3g) over the flour, making sure they don’t directly touch each other. Lightly mix them together.
Step 2
In a separate small bowl, lightly beat the egg (1). Add the lukewarm water (100ml) to the beaten egg, then pour this mixture into the large bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a spatula or your hands until no dry flour is visible and a shaggy dough forms.
Step 3
Once the dough starts to come together, add the room temperature unsalted butter (40g). Begin kneading the dough by hand. It might seem like the butter is separating at first, but keep kneading. Continue for about 15-20 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and develops a thin membrane when stretched. This is crucial for a good texture.
Step 4
Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place (around 25-30°C or 77-86°F) for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. This is the first proofing.
Step 5
After the first proof, gently punch down the dough to release the gases. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions (approximately 45-50g each).
Step 6
Gently shape each portion into a ball and let them rest, covered, for about 15 minutes (this is called bench resting). After resting, flatten each dough ball into a disc. Place about 35g of sweet red bean paste in the center of each flattened dough. Carefully gather the edges of the dough to enclose the filling and pinch them together securely.
Step 7
Pinch the seams tightly to seal the red bean paste inside. Ensure there are no gaps, as this will prevent the filling from leaking out during baking and maintain a beautiful shape.
Step 8
Place the shaped buns on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they have some space between them. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let them proof again in a warm place (around 35-40°C or 95-104°F) for 35-40 minutes. They should become noticeably puffy.
Step 9
Once the second proof is complete, gently press the center of each bun with your fingertip while they are still covered. This indentation helps the bun maintain a nice shape as it bakes and expands.
Step 10
Brush the tops of the buns evenly with egg wash. Sprinkle black sesame seeds onto one side of each bun for garnish.
Step 11
Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C (375°F) for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown. Oven temperatures can vary, so adjust the time and temperature as needed. Your delicious homemade red bean buns are ready!
