This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
Mantou
Traditional Chinese steamed buns or mantou (馒头) is one of the most popular steamed bun recipes in Chinese food.
In this post, you are going to learn the easiest way to make homemade steamed buns or mantou buns.
This recipe is so quick, easy and 100% fail-proof.
The active time is only 20 minutes and a tray of steaming hot buns will be ready in less than 1 1/2 hours, including proofing time!
Steamed Buns Recipe
While you can buy mantou buns from Chinese grocery stores or restaurants, they are very easy to make at home.
My steamed buns recipe calls for only four (4) basic ingredients below:
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Sugar
- Yeast
I love milk in mantou recipe, but you can also use water or soy milk. I used whole milk in my recipe, but you can certainly choose to use low fat milk or skim milk.
How to Make Steamed Buns?
There are two ways of making mantou. Traditionally, mantou are 100% hand-made. The dough is kneaded by hands.
My method is the quickest and easiest method. First, combine milk, yeast and sugar together. There is no need to “activate” the yeast first so you save time.
Next, I used a stand mixer with a dough hook to knead the dough for 6 minutes.
After than, I shaped the dough into a log and cut it into 8 portions.
Steam the steamed buns mantou dough for 10 minutes and you will have cotton soft, fluffy and delicious buns ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Freeze Mantou Buns?
I don’t recommend freezing but you can certainly keep them in the refrigerator.
Pack the leftovers in a plastic bag and keep in the fridge for up to a week.
To serve, just reheat them in a steamer or microwave for 1 minute.
How to Make Chinese Steamed Buns Whiter?
Add 1 teaspoon of Chinese white vinegar to the water inside your steamer before steaming.
It will make the buns extra white in appearance.
Can I Use This Recipe to Bake Baozi or Bao?
Yes, you can. Baozi (包子) or bao is a type of steamed buns with fillings. Steamed bao buns are basically mantou with a filling.
It uses the same dough recipe.
Is Chinese Steamed Buns the Same As Korean or Japanese?
Some recipes in Korean recipes and Japan recipes originated from Chinese recipes.
Korean and Japanese versions of steamed bao buns are very similar to Chinese buns.
How Many Calories per Serving?
Each bun is only 183 calories.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve mantou with condensed milk or soy milk. For a wholesome Chinese breakfast, I recommend the following recipes.
For more great recipes like this, sign up for our newsletter. We’ll send daily recipes you’ll love!
Sign up for our newsletter!
Steamed Buns - Mantou
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 350 g (12 oz) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Add the milk, yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer attached with a dough hook. Stir the mixture with a pair of chopsticks or a spoon.
- Add the flour to the yeast mixture. Turn on speed 1 and knead the ingredients until it forms a smooth dough, about 6 minutes. If the dough starts to "climb up" the dough hook, stop the stand mixer and push the dough down to the bowl.
- Transfer the dough out and cover it with plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes.
- On a slightly floured surface, roll out the dough with a rolling pin, from bottom to top.
- Turn the dough horizontally and roll from bottom to top.
- Continue to roll out the dough to form a 14x10" (35cm x 25cm)rectangle.
- Roll up the dough into a log, from left to right. Make sure you tuck and roll the dough so it forms a tight log.
- Roll out the log a few times or until the surface looks smooth and reaches 12-inch (30cm) in length.
- Cut the dough into 8 equal-sized pieces using a sharp knife. Transfer each dough to a 3x4"-inch (7cm x 10cm) parchment paper. You may roll each dough into a round ball after cutting.
- Place the dough into a steamer. Cover the lid of the steamer and let rise for 60 minutes, or until the dough balls expand in size. Make sure you leave enough space between each dough ball so they don't stick together.
- Add water to the bottom of the steamer. You may add 1 teaspoon of Chinese white vinegar to make the steamed buns whiter. Cover the lid tightly.
- Turn on high heat and steam for 10-12 minutes, or until the dough expands to soft, puffy and fluffy steamed buns. Turn off the heat and serve the steamed buns warm. Dip with condensed milk if you like sweet steamed buns.
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Is the time has to be exact or not? And consequences? Ty
Yes, please follow the recipe exactly.
Should I use a room temperature milk or can it be cold milk?
I use milk from my fridge all the time and it’s fine.
Can i deep fry the dough to make fried mantao buns?
Yes, you can but you should make the dough into 16 pieces, or half the size of my recipe. You don’t want to fry big mantou.
Hi, first time ever attempting mantou & this came out perfectly, thanks! If I want to turn this into char siu bao, when should I add in the meat? Should I do it in Step 9 (and then follow Step 10 for 60 min prove)?
Yes, after step 9 you add the meat filling.
Can you just bake these buns
Steve, this buns are not meant to be bake, but I guess you can try. I can’t guarantee results.
These look amazing and so easy! Definitely going to try!
Yes, you must, it’s so good!
Can I leave out the yeast and sub with baking powder? What’s the difference?
You need yeast for steamed buns.
Can you give us a recipe for a char siu pork filling for the buns ?? One of my favorite chinese treats !!!
https://rasamalaysia.com/char-siew-bao/
Hi Bee,
I don’t have chinese white vinegar, can I use distilled white vinegar instead?
Yes, it’s fine. You don’t have to use it but it should make your steamed buns whiter. :)
Can you recommend a steamer to make these? Please! Thanks!
Hi Glad, please refer to the recipe section, you can steam without a steamer using a regular pan or skillet.
Can you use a food processor
I think you can try but it’s best to knead with hands if you don’t have a stand mixer.
Would low gluten flour give an even more lighter result?
You can try, I think so!
Any ideas if don’t have the stand mixer and need one also what’s chinese white vinegar ? Ty
You can knead by hand. You don’t need the vinegar, it’s optional.