Chinese Cocktail Buns

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, for kneading

• 1/4 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
•  1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup finely grated coconut (optional)

• 1 egg, beaten (optional)
• Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Place 1/3 cup sugar and milk in a small saucepan, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup softened butter, and gently warm the mixture until the butter melts and the mixture is warm but not hot (no warmer than about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.) In a large bowl, stir together the yeast and salt with 2 1/2 cups flour until well blended. Pour the milk mixture into the flour-yeast mixture. Stir in 1 beaten egg, and mix until the mixture forms a sticky, wet dough.
2. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and knead for about 10 minutes, gradually kneading in 1 cup of additional flour, or as needed, to make a smooth, elastic dough. Form the dough into a round ball, place into an oiled bowl, and turn the dough around in the bowl a few times to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with a cloth, and allow dough to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Cream 1/4 cup softened butter with 1/2 cup of sugar in a bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the pudding mix, 1/4 cup flour, milk, and the coconut (if desired) until the mixture is smooth and well blended (but not liquidy). Set the filling aside.
4. Working on a floured surface, punch down the dough, and cut into 2 equal pieces. Cut each piece into 8 equal-sized pieces (16 pieces total). Form each piece into an oblong bun, and flatten the bun with a floured rolling pin. Scoop up about 1 tablespoon of filling with a spoon, and place in the center of a bun. Pull and pinch the edges of the dough together to enclose the filling in the bun. Repeat with all dough pieces, and place the filled buns, seam sides down, onto the prepared baking sheets. Cover the buns with a cloth, and allow to rise in a warm place 1 hour.
5. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. For a glossy coating, beat 1 egg in a bowl, and brush each bun with a little beaten egg. Sprinkle each bun with a few sesame seeds.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until the buns are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.
8. Yields 16 buns.