Description
These buttery, coffee-topped buns are a delightful treat—crispy on the outside, pillowy on the inside, and hiding a melty salted butter center. Inspired by the famous Papparoti, they’re perfect with your favorite cup of coffee! #Papparoti #CoffeeBuns #ButterBuns #AsianBakery #HomemadeBread
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bun Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (minus 1 Tbsp)
- 1 ½ tsp yeast
- 1 ½ Tbsp sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ½ cup warm milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 ½ Tbsp unsalted butter, soft (not melted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Coffee Topping
- ½ Tbsp coffee granules
- ½ Tbsp warm water
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, soft (not melted)
- 1 large egg white
- 1 ½ Tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
For the Filling
- 8 frozen salted butter cubes (9 to 10 grams each)
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, warm milk, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until a dough forms. Knead in the soft butter until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the filling: Cut salted butter into cubes (9–10g each) and freeze until firm.
- Shape the buns: Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Flatten each, place a frozen butter cube in the center, and seal. Shape into smooth balls, place on a lined baking sheet, cover loosely, and let rise for 30–40 minutes.
- Make the coffee topping: Dissolve coffee granules in warm water. Beat butter and sugar until light, add the egg white and coffee mixture, then fold in the flour. Transfer to a piping bag.
- Top the buns: Pipe a spiral of the topping on each bun, starting from the center outward.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake buns for 15–18 minutes or until golden brown and topping is crisp.
- Serve: Enjoy warm for the ultimate experience with melty butter and a fragrant coffee crust.
Notes
- Don’t skip freezing the butter—it’s key for the melty center!
- You can substitute instant espresso powder for a stronger coffee flavor.
- Buns are best served fresh but can be reheated in the oven to revive crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg