Gai Mei Bao

Ever since I've eaten one of these yummy rolls in San Francisco Chinatown, I've always wanted to learn how to make them. I also enjoyed eating them in Hong Kong (where they originate from). They are just so yummy :) Lucky for me, one of my friends came over and helped me make them. Her dad is from Hong Kong and they've been working on a recipe for awhile. They turned out SO yummy! We loved them at first bite :)

Ingredients:

Dough:
2 cups warm milk
2 T honey
2 T yeast

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 T salt
1 egg
5-6 cups flour

Filling:
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 T powdered milk, or sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut (really fine--I found it at Winco)

Topping:
1/4 cup butter, softened
scant 1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup flour
pinch of salt

Egg Wash: 1 egg yolk, 1 T water, pinch sugar

Sesame Seeds (white)

Directions:

Dough--combine yeast, milk and honey to proof the yeast for about 5 minutes. In your bread machine (Kitchenaid, Bosch, etc...) combine the butter, sugar, egg, yeast mixture and flour. Knead for about 10 minutes. Keep adding flour until the dough is soft and still a little sticky (but not too much). Let rise in a warm place until TRIPLE in bulk. Punch down and let rest for 10 minutes before you form them into rolls.

Filling and Topping--Mix all the filling ingredients together. Chill until ready to use (this makes it easier to stuff into the rolls). Mix the topping together. It should be pasty (kind of like frosting). If it's too crumbly, add some more softened butter.

To Assemble: Separate the dough into about 25 balls. Flatten it out into a circle with one push of your palm. Take about a tablespoon full of filling and place it at the top of the dough. Roll it up and pinch the seam. Place it seam-side down on the greased cookie sheet. (I know this is kind of hard to understand....sorry, I don't really know how to explain rolling it up!) Continue until you've filled all the rolls.

Let rise for 90 minutes! The long rise time is really a key to this recipe. Brush the egg wash on top (you could use milk instead if you want) and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Use a piping bag to pipe on the topping in two lines (about an inch from each end of the bun making a perpendicular stripe).

Bake at 375 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.

Devour at once...they are fabulous!

Sorry for the crazy recipe format. Ask me if you have any questions :)