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Pineapple Bun (Polo Bun/菠蘿包)
June 24th, 2011Recipes, Baking Recipes, Recipes, Chinese Recipes, Recipes25 Comments
If you have been to Chinatown and have tried authentic Cantonese dim sum, you will probably know pineapple buns (boroh bun). Regardless of its name, there is no pineapple in the bun—it’s a soft bun with a sweet and crusty topping, which is extremely tasty when it’s freshly baked. I love pineapple buns and that’s why I asked my contributor Siew Loon to share her pineapple buns recipe. If you love Asian-style pastry, buns, and bread, I am sure you will love this. Enjoy!
Over the last few months, the craze about Asian breads and pastry has prompted me to try baking these delicacies such as pineapple buns, Hokkaido milk loaf, Castella, and the list goes on. One of my favorites is pineapple buns (or called buo luo bao/菠蘿包 in Cantonese) which is a popular bun in Hong Kong. This is a MUST EAT on my list whenever I visit Hong Kong.
Pineapple bun is a combination of soft bun with a butter pastry topping. While enjoying the softness of the bun, we are also able to savor the sinfully fragrant butter pastry and this is really irresistible. And this pineapple bun is always great to be taken hot-off-the-oven so baking it yourself will allow you to pop the bun into the mouth as soon as it is out of the oven. It is best to go with a cup of green tea. After a lot of trials and errors, I have finally made it. I hope you will enjoy this pineapple bun recipe as much I do.
(Click Page 2 for the Pineapple Bun Recipe)
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I used to buy these whenever we go to this bakery in Dallas. I’ve always wondered how they make the pastry topping. Thanks!
Now you know how to make this pineapple buns. :)
hi, isn’t bolo bao, the custard bun supposed to have egg custard inside that oozes out when you bite into it?
can share how to make that? yum yum :P
Yes, but not all pineapple buns have fillings. This is the plain ones.
will try the recipe. is it instant yeast or what type pls advise. thanks
I use instant yeast. Pertaining to your second question, you will need to proof until it double in size or 45 mins whichever is earlier.
sorry – You mentioned “Leave to proof for abt 45 min or to double in size. Glaze it with egg wash.” Do I glaze it immly when I leave the dough to proof or after the 45 min.thks
Glaze it after proofing.
Are these like the Japanese melon-pan? They seem similar – named after a fruit, don’t contain said fruit, and both have a crusty topping that splits when they’re baked.
I think they are similar but also different.
I’m ashamed to say I’ve finally tried these for the first time at a dim sum place in Rosemead… they are sooooo amazing!
I have to try this recipe out!
That’s great, I am glad that you finally discovered the deliciousness of pineapple buns. :)
Is your cookbook available in the US yet?
Awesome, Bee! I have always wanted to make this! Have you tried Roti Boy? I am trying to find time to make that soon…. :)
We will be featuring Rotiboy in our next write up. Please look out!
sorry, when do I have to add the 30g shortening for the Topping. Its not mentioned in the Method for Topping. Thanks
Add it together with butter
Thanks for sharing this recipe. My hubby loves this bun but he doesn’t like it fresh he prefers those that is 1 day old. Yup, strange guy! Anyway,I may surprise him one day and try my hands in making these buns.
Before I do so, just need to clarify a couple of those ingredients.
What is “shortening”? Is there another name for it? I live in Australia and I wonder if it’s readily available in Western supermarkets or should I try my luck at Asian grocers.
Is powdered sugar the same as icing sugar?
Thank you.
The famous brad for shortening is CRISCO. Don’t know if it is available in Australia but I think they do sell it in the supermarket like Coles. Powdered sugar is icing sugar.
Sorry to trouble u again. To proof the dough, do I need to cover it and place in unheated oven. Thanks
I tried the recipe and I couldn’t get the pastry topping to turn out correctly. It ended up staying a pale white color after baking, and was all flat. Do you have any tips/troubleshooting?
I have been wondering forever how these are made (I love the ones with red bean filling), thanks for the recipe! Any clue as to why they are called pineapple buns?
My husband loves this type of bread recipe and we usually buy our dozen at our local bake shop, but here in Sacramento they have a coconut filling that he absolutely loves. Do you, by chance, have a coconut cream filling recipe that I could add to this bun?