Coffee lovers, rejoice! These Coffee Buns are the perfect way to start your day or enjoy during a relaxing break. Infused with rich coffee flavor through a creamy filling, these buns offer a delicious twist to the classic sweet bread. This recipe is versatile and allows you to experiment with other flavors like cocoa, matcha, or milk powder, catering to all tastes.
Why You'll Love This: These buns combine the comfort of soft, fresh bread with the invigorating flavor of coffee, creating a unique and delightful pastry that's not too sweet and perfectly balanced. The addition of a sourdough starter in the dough adds a slight tanginess that complements the sweet and creamy coffee filling beautifully.
Perfect Occasion: Coffee Buns are great for breakfast, brunch, or as an afternoon snack. They're a hit at gatherings, perfect for sharing with fellow coffee lovers, or serving at casual meetings where you want to impress with homemade baking.
Baking Tips: For a beautiful finish, ensure your egg wash is even to get that golden, shiny crust. If you're experimenting with flavors, adjust the amount of flavored powder slightly depending on its intensity compared to coffee powder.
- Ingredients:
- Sweet Stiff Starter:
- 30g sourdough starter
- 90g bread flour
- 40g water
- 15g sugar
- Dough:
- 230g bread flour
- 20g sugar
- 4g salt
- 165g milk
- 20g unsalted butter
- All of the sweet stiff starter
- Coffee Filling:
- 90g softened butter
- 50g sugar
- One egg (55g)
- 80g milk powder
- 8g coffee powder
- Sweet Stiff Starter:
- Method:
- Prepare the Sweet Stiff Starter:
- Mix sourdough starter, bread flour, water, and sugar. Let it rise until it triples in size, about 7-8 hours at 27-28°C.
- Make the Dough:
- Combine all dough ingredients except butter. Mix until the dough forms.
- Gradually add butter in batches, kneading until fully incorporated and the dough passes the windowpane test.
- Bulk proof the dough for 2 hours at 28°C.
- Shape the Buns:
- Punch down the dough, divide into 8 equal parts, and roll into smooth balls. Rest for 15 minutes.
- Roll out each piece of dough, spread with coffee filling, and shape as desired.
- Let the shaped buns proof for another 3-3.5 hours at 28°C or until they rise 1.5 times in size.
- Baking:
- Apply an egg wash to the buns.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown.
- Prepare the Sweet Stiff Starter:
Enjoy these aromatic Coffee Buns warm, perhaps with a cup of coffee, for a perfect coffee-themed treat. Their soft texture and rich filling make them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at any table.