Hawaiian Sweet Buns (Almost Kings)

Easy and quick recipe for making Hawaiian sweet buns (Almost kings).

📝 Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoon yeast
• pinch of sugar
• 400 grams (around 2.5-3 cups) all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 25 g (1/4 cup) milk powder
• 6 tablespoon milk
• 1 egg
• 2 Tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
• 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
• 1 more egg, beaten with a splash of water, for eggwash

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Mix the water and flour and heat it on medium flame until it starts to become a watery custard or tangzhong.
2. 2Add warm water plus a pinch of sugar to the yeast and leave it aside for 5 minutes so it becomes foamy.
3. 3Mix the dry ingredients and whisk till combined – flour, sugar, milk powder, salt, lemon zest and orange zest.
4. 4In a separate bowl mix together Milk, eggs, vanilla, all of the tangzhong, butter, and all of the yeast mixture.
5. 5Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and start kneading. Knead for 5 minutes on medium speed on a stand mixer. If kneading by hand, knead for a good 10 minutes. Let it rise in a draft free place until doubled. About 60 to 90 minutes.
6. 6Once doubled,divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Form an uniform ball and crimp the bottom. Place in a 9×13 pan with the seam side of the dough down. Do the same for remaining dough pieces. Cover it and let it double again.
7. 7Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
8. 8Coat the dough with egg wash and bake in a preheated oven at 200C/400F for 20 minutes. When it’s done, the bread will sound hollow when tapped.