Coffee Buns

Are you a coffee and bread lover like me? If you are, then for sure you will love this Coffee Bun. I once tasted this at a Korean Bakery here in California. Since then I've been eager to know how the mocha topping is made. The soft and fluffy bread is covered in mocha flavored crispy shell. Delicious!
For this recipe, I adopted the bun from my Sweet Bread Rolls recipe. The bread is soft, airy and fluffy. Perfect for this Coffee Buns. If you haven't tried it, well then, it's great. Once you make this, that will be your next project :). 
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The crispy outer shell is made from coffee frosting that is piped like a spiral shape on top of the buns. That mocha frosting will melt and drip into the sides of the bun all the way to its' feet during baking. This Coffee Buns are a must-try! Please note that you can use decaffeinated coffee powder if caffeine is not for you but loves coffee. That's me! I use decaf powder in many of my recipes and still enjoy coffee flavored cakes and pastries. If you're interested, you can also try my Coffee Sponge Cake. Super delish as well. 
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Pillowy soft and buttery buns covered in a crispy coffee crust.  Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. Enjoy! 

Coffee BUns Recipe

Ingredients:
Dough

• 1/4 cup lukewarm water (105 F-120 F)
• 1 pack or 2 1/4 tsp yeast
• 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups + 4 tbsp or more all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tbsp milk, warm or at room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 
• extra flour for dusting
• 8 pieces small diced cold butter for filling

Mocha Topping

• 6 tbsp softened butter
• 6 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp coffee powder dissolved in 2 tsp water

Video

​Procedure:

• Activate yeast by combining lukewarm water, yeast and 1/2 tbsp sugar in a small cup or bowl. Stir and let rest for 5-10 minutes or until it bubbles (double or triple in size).
• In a mixing bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt. 
• Add eggs, milk and activated yeast. Mix until ingredients are fully incorporated. 
• Add butter 1 tbsp at a time while kneading by hand or using stand mixer (speed 4). 
• Add flour (about 1/4 cup) 1 tbsp at a time while continue kneading until the dough becomes smooth but still slightly sticky.
• Transfer the dough into a greased bowl . Cover and rest in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until double in size.
• Punch down dough to release air packets. Transfer to a floured surface, roll into a log and divide equally into 8 pieces.

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• Make round dough balls, flatten with your finger like a disc (smooth side at the bottom). Place 1 piece cold butter. Fold edges to seal and roll to make a round dough. ( Tips below).
• Place the rolled dough (end or sim at the bottom) onto a pan lined with parchment paper. 
• Cover and let rise for another 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dough should expand more.
• While waiting, prepare the mocha topping. 
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and sugar.  Beat until light and creamy.
• Add egg and beat until well combined.
• Add dissolved coffee and beat until fully incorporated.
• Add flour through a sieve and sift.  Continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Transfer to a piping bag and cut the tip off. Pipe the mixture over the buns in a spiral shape until it covers half of the bun.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F for about 16-18 minutes. ​
• Top should be crispy like a shell. 
• Enjoy! 

​Tips and Notes:

• Making round dough balls with smooth top, before flattening before adding the butter (for filling), gives a nice smooth top and makes a nice easy round shape. 
• Make sure that the edges are fully sealed or else the butter will leak at the bottom. 
• Make sure to give enough space for the 2nd rising. If possible use two medium trays with 4 buns on each tray or 1 large tray. 
• Top of the baked bun should be crispy like a shell but not burnt. Make sure to check your oven before the set time as oven temperature varies. 

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​You May Also Like:

Coffee Sponge Cake

​Taisan (Filipino Chiffon Cake)