Milk Bread Honey Buns

These honey buns are extra special because the tangzhong makes them super light, fluffy and tender. Tangzhong is a Japanese technique that simply involves cooking a mixture of flour, water and milk to create a paste that is later added to the bread dough.

Milk Bread Honey Buns Video Tutorial

Scroll down for printable recipe.

Make the Tangzhong: Add flour, water and milk to pan. Heat on medium heat, whisking constantly, until you achieve a thick, smooth paste.

Add the milk, egg, honey and salt to the Tangzhong. (Tip: whisk the egg with the milk before adding to the Tangzhong.) Blend together the flour and yeast. Add mixture to the mixer bowl and mix on medium-low speed until dough comes together.

Add softened (not melted!) butter, a small piece at at time, until fully incorporated. Turn mixer to medium speed and knead for 10 -15 minutes (mix times may vary) until dough comes together around the dough hook and is soft, shiny, and slightly tacky.

Transfer dough to an oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in size. After rising, place covered dough in refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. This will allow for easier shaping.

Punch down dough, and turn out onto lightly greased counter. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces (about 60 grams each). Shape each piece into a tight round ball and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled and an indent remains after lightly touching dough with finger.

Brush gently with egg wash. Bake for 25-27 minutes at 350˚F.

Milk Bread Honey Buns

These honey buns are perfect for a special occasion, and easy enough for every day. The tangzhong makes these buns super light, fluffy and tender.

Yield 16 buns

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Ingredients

Tangzhong

• 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
• 1/2 cup (120g) water

Dough

• 3 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons (444g) all-purpose flour
• 1 (0.25oz) package (7g) or 2 1/4 teaspoons Platinum Yeast
• 1/2 cup (120ml) lukewarm whole milk (105˚F)
• 1 large egg (room temperature)
• 3 tablespoons (63g) honey (OR 1/3 cup (66 grams) granulated sugar)
• 1 teaspoon (4g) fine sea salt
• 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter (softened, not melted)
• Egg wash: 1 egg plus 1 tablespoon water (whisked together)

Instructions

• Make the tangzhong: In a saucepan, add the flour, then while whisking, add the water and milk. Whisk constantly over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens into a smooth paste. Mixing time is approximately 3 1/2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Make the dough: In a mixing bowl, add the flour and Platinum Yeast. Stir to combine.
• To the lukewarm milk, add the egg, stir, then add it to the Tangzhong. Add the honey and salt; then add the flour-yeast mixture. Mix on medium-low speed with the dough hook until the mixture just comes together and then add the butter, a small piece at a time, until incorporated. Raise the mixer speed to medium.
• The mixture will be very soft, and shaggy at first, sticking to the bottom and sides of the bowl. Continue mixing until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is smooth and shiny, about 10-15 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and turn the dough over to coat the dough in oil.
• First rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature until the dough almost doubles in size. (See note below for overnight rise option.) Place the dough in the refrigerator to firm up for shaping, about 1/2 hour. Note: the dough is very soft and slack, but by cooling it in the refrigerator, the butter in the dough seizes and the dough firms enough to shape more easily, much like brioche dough.
• Shape the rolls: Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly greased counter. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Using the “claw” method, roll each bun into a tight ball. Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan, seam side down, a few inches apart (8 rolls per pan), and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
• Second rise: Allow buns to rise in a warm area, no warmer than 90˚F, for 40-50 minutes or until about doubled in size and pass the ripe test (an indent remains after lightly touching dough with finger tip).
• Preheat oven to 350˚F.
• Bake rolls: Brush with egg wash and bake until golden brown and the internal temperature reads 190˚F, about 25-27 minutes.

Notes

For overnight rise: Place covered unrisen dough in refrigerator overnight, remove from refrigerator and continue with step 6.

 

Recipe by Gesine Prado.

– MORE –

Milk Bread Recipes

Click Here for Babka recipe

Click Here for Honey Bunnies Recipe

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Gesine Prado is a self-taught baker, teacher and author. Visit G Bakes! for more of her delicious recipes.