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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.
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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.
Can I make this sweeter?
Yes you can.
Can i deep fry these? And if so, do i steam first before deep frying?
Yes you can deep fry. Yes steam first.
Delicious fluffy buns. Love the simplicity in this recipe. Was wondering if I needed to activate my yeast first but then realized the sugar/milk mixture would help it activate. I proofed these for half an hour on the Yogurt low function on the Instant Pot (I’ve found the Instant Pot helps cut proofing time in half). Tried steaming in both the Instant Pot and the regular way, and the regular way did come out fluffier but probably because my timing in the Instant Pot was a bit off. Will definitely make again and maybe try infusing flavor into it (matcha mantous?) :)
This recipe is perfect and so easy. Thank you!
Can I replace the active dry yeast with rapidrise instant yeast? Would it be the same measurement?
It should be the same.
I have made this twice already in the last week, and my third batch is rising right now. It is so easy to make, and the flavor and texture are spot on. This is the best recipe I’ve found for mantou, and I love how simple it is to make. The kids love the buns and can’t stop eating them, which is why I’m on to my third batch. Every time I have followed the directions exactly, and everything has come out as described, except I find that my dough needs to rise 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour to be puffy. Thanks for the suggestion of the white vinegar in the steamer to make them extra white, just like at the restaurant.
(I tried the modification with half heavy cream and half milk, and I did not like the results. The dough more sticky, and the taste was actually too rich. So I’ve decided to stick to using 1 cup of whole milk instead.)
Can I know how many mantou can be made out with this recipe?
Mine didn’t rise, my yeast isn’t expired either. Should I warm the milk to help activate the yeast?
They came out super gummy and sticky. Did I not cook them enough or too much? I have a bamboo steamer but I hand mix my dough.
This recipe works 100%. I have made this dozens of time. Your measurement must be off.
This is the clearest, easiest recipe I’ve seen yet. Thank you for adding milk substitute and steamer option info for us!! Saving this one for sure!!
Awesome please try!
I love this site! I made steamed chicken bao for the first time yesterday. I wont say it was a “rousing success”, but my family gave it a 8.5 out of 10, so I am Thrilled! Thanks for making it so easy!
That’s very good. Please try more recipes on my site!
Thank you for the hawaiian roll recipe.
I will try it tomorrow.?
Awesome!
Is the use of milk right out of the fridge (cold), or should it be warmed up or should it be at room temperature?
Cold.
Am I able to add some filling into this? Like red bean or black sesame?
Yes, you can add anything as a filling.
Can I use bread maker to mix because I don’t have a mixer with dough hook?
Yes.
Can I leave this in the fridge overnight?
Yes, of course. Just steam again before eating.