Pillow soft steamed red bean buns(豆沙包) are one of the most popular Chinese desserts. It is one of the most popular and loved Chinese-style sweet steamed buns. Let's learn how to make perfect red bean buns with homemade red bean paste and an easy foolproof one-time proofing dough method.
To make these lovely soft sweet steamed red bean buns, the filling, red bean paste is the first thing we need to prepare. Red bean paste, also known as Anko in Japanese, is a popular ingredient used in many traditional Asian dishes. It is made from red beans (aka red beans)that have been boiled, mashed, and sweetened with sugar and smoothed by fat. The texture of red bean paste can range from thick and smooth to slightly chunky. It has been widely used in Chinese and Japanese cuisines. Although store-bought red bean paste is super convenient, the homemade version is so amazing that I want to share it with you the process.
You can buy red bean paste from Asian stores usually packaged in plastic bags or we have detailed guidelines about how to make red bean paste at home. You can make a larger batch each time because it can be used to make other desserts or make a lovely instant red bean soup.
For this particular batch of filling, I use rock sugar and simmer it together with the red beans. You can replace it with your favorite sweetener.
The sweet level for this filling is the middle. If you want a sweeter taste, increase to ¾ cup or decrease to ⅓ cup.
Step-by-step instructions for making red bean buns
Make red bean paste
Since we will use one-time proofing dough, which means there is only one proofing process needed. So the first step of this red bean bun recipe is to make the paste. Add water, sugar, and soaked red beans into an instant pot, and cook with the bean procedure. Then transfer to a non-stick pan, and melt in butter (optional, you can use vegetable cooking oil too). Stir fry until the paste can stick together.
Wrapper dough
Once the paste is ready for wrapping, we start to make the dough. Add yeast and sugar in cold water or chilled water. Mix well.
Add flour and yeast water to a stand mixer and mix for around 1 minute at low speed. Add vegetable oil (optional) and continue kneading for at least 10 minutes until the dough is super smooth and elastic.
Take the dough out, slightly dust the operating board and then divide the dough into 8 portions.
Take one portion out, to get a smooth surface, knead the small for a couple of minutes, and then shape it into a ball. If you are not good at kneading dough, a beginner-friendly way is to roll out the wrapper and then roll it up, rotate it, and then roll it out again. With this method, you can make red bean buns with a smooth surface.
Press down and then roll out slightly to a larger wrapper, then turn the wrapper over (so the smooth surface on the outside) and roll like dumpling wrappers to get a thick bottom.
Place a red bean filling in the center, gather the dough slowly using the space between your thumb and forefinger, and then tear off the excess dough. With this method, we can make cute round red bean buns.
Turn the bun over and shape it into a dome (a little bit higher because it will flat a little bit ). Repeat to finish the remaining buns. You can achieve this by rolling the dough with two hands on the operating board.
Finish all of the buns, and transfer them to a lined steamer. I make 8 this time. Line your steamer and place the buns one by one, with space among each other. If you prefer smaller ones, you can make 10 red bean buns with those ingredients.
My steamer is around 30cm. Place them in two different ones if you are using a smaller steamer.
One time proofing
Cover the lid and now let them start one-time proofing. The time depends on lots of factors, including the room temperature and then the moisture. All we need to do is to watch the size of the dough. Your buns will be ready to steam when they are 1.5 times in size.
For a better look, we don't suggest waiting until they are 2 times in size because when the yeast starts to work, it produces small bubbles inside that beautiful and smooth skin and thus causes some small bubbles and bumps on the surface.
Steaming
When the buns are ready to steam, add the wok or steamer with cold water and steam for around 13 minutes (on middle slow heat after the water starts to boil). Then remove from heat and let it stand for 5 minutes. Pillow soft and sweet red bean buns are ready.
The one-time-proofing method is easy and super friendly to beginners, but your red bean buns might turn harder after cooling down. Re-heat to soften it back.
How to store leftovers
If you have leftovers, transfer those red bean buns into a plastic bag, seal them well, and place them in the fridge. It can be fridge for 3 days or freeze up for 1 month.
Tips for assembling the bao buns
- You can make the red bean paste into smaller balls and then wash your hands before assembling. Or use a scoop to transfer the filling to keep the hand clean and consequently, the wrapper won't be colored.
- Use your tiger's mouth to shape the bun to get a perfectly round shape. Then seal the bottom completely. Watch the video for the detailed process.
- Then roll the assembled dough with your hands to perfect the shape.
Tips for making the filling
- Make sure there is enough liquid in the filling to avoid drying. But I don't pursue a running filling because I don't want the filling running everywhere.
- Don’t freeze the filling. The hard and cold filling will slow down the fermentation of the wrapper.
- Don’t wrap too much filling at one time. A thin wrapper influences the fermentation and shape.
Homemade Red Beans Buns
Ingredients
Red bean paste (need 120g this time)
- ½ cup red beans pre-soaked
- ¼ cup sugar
- 400 ml water
- 1 tbsp. butter or vegetable oil. , optional
Dough
- 300 g all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 1.5 tsp. instant yeast
- 150 ml cold water or even chilled water (see note) or 180ml milk.
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil ,corn oil
Instructions
Make red bean paste
- Since we will use one-time proofing dough, which means there is only one proofing process needed. So the first step of this red bean bun recipe is to make the paste. Add water, sugar, and soaked red beans into an instant pot, and cook with the bean procedure. Then transfer to a non-stick pan, and melt in butter (optional, you can use vegetable cooking oil too). Stir fry until the paste can stick together.
Wrapper dough
- Once the paste is ready for wrapping, we start to make the dough. Add yeast and sugar in cold water or chilled water. Mix well.
- Add flour and yeast water to a stand mixer and mix for around 1 minute at low speed. Add vegetable oil (optional) and continue kneading for at least 10 minutes until the dough is super smooth and elastic.
Roll out wrapper and assemble
- Take the dough out, slightly dust the operating board and then divide the dough into 8 portions.
- Take one portion out, to get a smooth surface, knead the small for a couple of minutes, and then shape it into a ball. If you are not good at kneading dough, a beginner-friendly way is to roll out the wrapper and then roll it up, rotate it, and then roll it out again. With this method, you can make red bean buns with a smooth surface.
- Press down and then roll out slightly to a larger wrapper, then turn the wrapper over (so the smooth surface on the outside) and roll like dumpling wrappers to get a thick bottom.
- Place a red bean filling in the center, gather the dough slowly using the space between your thumb and forefinger, and then tear off the excess dough. With this method, we can make cute round red bean buns.
- Turn the bun over and shape it into a dome (a little bit higher because it will flat a little bit ). Repeat to finish the remaining buns. You can achieve this by rolling the dough with two hands on the operating board.
- Finish all of the buns, and transfer them to a lined steamer. I make 8 this time. Line your steamer and place the buns one by one, with space among each other. If you prefer smaller ones, you can make 10 red bean buns with those ingredients.
One time proofing
- Cover the lid and now let them start one-time proofing. The time depends on lots of factors, including the room temperature and then the moisture. All we need to do is to watch the size of the dough. Your buns will be ready to steam when they are 1.5 times in size.
- For a better look, we don't suggest waiting until they are 2 times in size because when the yeast starts to work, it produces small bubbles inside that beautiful and smooth skin and thus causes some small bubbles and bumps on the surface.
Steaming
- When the buns are ready to steam, add the wok or steamer with cold water and steam for around 13 minutes (on middle slow heat after the water starts to boil). Then remove from heat and let it stand for 5 minutes. Pillow soft and sweet red bean buns are ready.
Notes
Nutrition
What to serve with
I love to serve it with soy milk, regular milk, or congee. This is a lovely serving way of Chinese breakfast.
With this dough, you can also make other sweet buns like black sesame buns, and sugar buns.
A_Boleyn
Delicious looking recipe but I'm curious about the number of servings the recipe makes. You write that it makes 16 servings but in the instructions it says to divide the dough into 6 or 8 portions. Could you clarify?
Elaine
Thanks for the correctness. 300g dough can make around 6-8 buns, but quite large. Serving 16 might be confusing so I have already updated it to 6.
hannah
can you freeze these after making them? and how long can you freeze them? The mantou too
Elaine
For homemade buns and mantou, I suggest eating them within 1 week after frozen.
Alex
Hi! May I know if I can make this recipe without a stand mixer ?
Elaine
Sure, Alex. You can knead the dough by hand.
Steven Gibson
What would you serve with red bean buns?
Elaine
Usually soy milk.
Jo
This is a fabulous recipe! Thank you!! The buns are light and fluffy and the bean paste is sweet and earthy. Thank you for the wonderful directions!
Elaine
Thanks Jo for your wonderful feedback. I know how satisfying they are. Happy cooking!
Kathy
This recipe was a real hit for my family! We loved the steamed bread itself and plan to use other fillings for it too. I did divide the dough into 6 portions and the buns came out giant (and in need of more filling per bun), sort of like the ones you see in Spirited Away. We didn’t mind because the steamed bread was so good but I’d definitely cut the portions up more next time
Winnie
Amazing recipe! really delicious. Thank you!
Elaine
Thanks Winnie for your feedback!
Victoria
Your buns look so good! I really want to make them, but I’m wondering if you used instant yeast or active dry? Thank you in advance 🙂
Elaine
Recently, I use instant yeast.
Violet
They came out kind of lumpy/wrinkly, but they taste good. I guess I need to knead it more the second time until no bubbles according to what other comments here say. I put them in an instant pot also for 3 minutes at high pressure. I just put them on the trivet. I will get a bamboo steamer for next time to put on top of the trivet so that I don't get lines in the bottom. I also used the red bean paste recipe here. Overall, they taste great, but I have to knead it more. Thank you:)
Elaine
Yes, you are right!! Lumpy surface means you need more kneading next time. Thanks for the feedback. Happy cooking
Maizie
I don't have a scale to weigh the ingredients.
STEVE
300g of flour is a cup and a heaping 3/4 cup
200g of bean paste filling is about a cup
40g of sugar is a heaping tablespoon.
I looked these conversions up online and tested them, but the conversions are not exact. However, they worked for me!
A joy of cooking is looking at a recipe once, and then making something from 'about' measurements. Nothing has to be exact, but as long as the ingreddients are close it's usually fine! I made bread with wine yeast once lol