Assorted Sweet Buns

Making bread has never been easier with the bread maker (Zojirushi) I bought 3 weeks ago. After dumping all the ingredients needed, I can just leave the breadmaker to do all the hard work.

Today, I am going to bake "Sweet Buns" using my bread maker for the 2nd time to prepare the dough. Previously, I prepared the dough of this recipe a few times by hand-kneading as well as by stand mixer. Hand-kneaded dough yielded softer texture bread compared to the stand mixer. Later, I would know how the bread maker fare.

I am going to make plain Sweet Buns and Sweet Buns with different fillings.


Ingredients:
(yields six buns)

85g milk
2/3 egg
100g bread flour
100g cake flour
2g salt
40g castor sugar
34g butter
3.5g active dry yeast

Filling (Optional):
(1tbs filling for each bun)
hazel nut spread (I used Nutella)
chunky peanut butter (I used Skippy)
raisins

Finishing:
1 egg for glazing
melon seed for topping (optional)
glaze with butter after baking for extra shine (optional)

Method:

1. Place all the ingredients according to the sequence stated above or according to the instruction manual of your bread maker. Select "Dough Function" and press "Start" button. For this machine, it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

2. Take out the dough from the baking pan and give a light kneading on a lightly floured surface.

3. Divide the dough into 6 portions, 60g each portion.

4. Rest the dough for 15 minutes with cling wrap or wet cloth.

5. Take out each dough to add fillings as desired. Place each dough on a greased/ lined pan (I had it lined with aluminium foil). Cover it loosely with a wet cloth or cling wrap. Let them rest for 25-30 minutes.

6. Remove cloth or cling wrap and brush the doughs with beaten egg glaze.

7. Bake for 15 minutes at 190 deg C preheated oven.

8. Take out from oven and place them on wire rack. Glaze with butter for finish and let cool.

Outcome:

The bread maker did a better job than my hand kneading skill and also kneading by mixer stand. This is the best sweet bun I have ever made so far. I woke up this morning and saw the following note from my housemate.

This recipe is definitely a keep!