Green Tea Buns with Green Tea Crusted Topping

My twist on Rotiboy (or Mexican Buns)! Instead of the coffee flavored that we have known and loved, I made it into green tea flavored. As my readers know, I love green tea powder or matcha and I had done some baking based on it as well. This recipe came about while I was looking at my previous Rotiboy's post, I thought of this idea, why not experiment it in a different flavor and green tea just stood out. So, I have this recipe in file for me to try for months, but just never gotten to really make it (blame my laziness). I finally made it today because my store-bought bread is running low and I am short of posts to post in my blog. So, that did it, I had to take my breadmaker out and start working. :P

These green tea buns came out so good, soft and fluffy (it even left a dent when my fingers picked out the buns to cool) with the crusty sweet topping that I loved. Simply delicious! If you love green tea, you should give this bun a try! I will certainly make more of this. :)


Resting and proofing until double in size.


Then, pipe the topping into spiral on top of each bun.


Add a little black sesame seeds in the center of each bun.


Like this! Don't spread the sesame seeds all over, just place it in the center as the topping will spread out when baking.

Green Tea Buns: (Yield about 18-20 buns)

230ml cold water
1 Tbsp. milk powder
1 large egg
5 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. green tea powder for baking
2 3/4 cup bread flour
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. bread improver
1 Tbsp. instant yeast



Method:

1. Add everything according to your bread maker manual. Turn on the dough function and let the bread maker do the work.

2. When done, take the dough out, give it a few kneads and roll the dough in cylinder shape, cut out individual portion, roll it into ball and place it on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.

Note: You can add filling you like at this point such as cream cheese, red bean paste or salted butter. (I omitted filling to cut down on calories and fat)

3. Cover with plastic wrap and let it proof for 45-60 minutes depending on the temperature of your room (or double in size).
4. When double in size, pipe the green tea topping on top of each bun in spiral motion and add some black sesame seeds in the middle. Bake in the preheated 375'F oven for 10 minutes.

5. Cool on wire rack and keep the leftover in the air-tight container. If the topping turns soft (should turn soft) the next day, just toast it in the toaster oven for 4-5 minutes, the topping will turn crispy again.



Really very soft and fluffy. Delectable!

Green Tea Crusted Flavored Topping:
1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp. sifted cake flour
1/4 cup sifted icing sugar
4 Tbsp. of soften butter (or 1/4 cup)
1 large egg
1 tsp. green tea powder for baking

Step:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Whisk until well blended and put it into a piping bag (or a zipper bag and cut the corner off) in preparation for spiral piping on top of each bun.