Pineapple Bun

also called bo lo bao · bolo bao · boh loh bao · 菠蘿包 · pineapple bun · pineapple bread · pineapple-top bun

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Pineapple Bun: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
2 Tbs(16 g)bread flourcook to a paste, cool itmix into the tangzhong and knead 10 minknead the butter in, rise until doubledportion the dough, drape a lid on each, proof 45 minbrush and bake 350°F (175°C) 16 min
1/3 cup(80 mL)whole milk
2 1/4 cups(300 g)bread flour
1/4 cup(50 g)granulated sugar
2 Tbs(14 g)nonfat dry milk
2 tsp(6 g)instant yeast
1 largeegg
1/2 cup(120 mL)warm whole milk
1 tsp(6 g)table salt
3 Tbs(40 g)softened unsalted butter
5 Tbs(70 g)softened unsalted buttercream the lid and work the flour in
2 Tbs(25 g)lard
2/3 cup(80 g)powdered sugar
1 largeegg yolk
1 Tbs(8 g)custard powder
1/2 tsp(2 g)baker's ammonia
1 cup(120 g)cake flour
1 largebeaten egg yolk
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.20 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1cook to a paste, cool it

2cream the lid and work the flour in

3mix into the tangzhong and knead 10 min

goes in with what step 1 made

4knead the butter in, rise until doubled

goes in with what step 3 made

6brush and bake 350°F (175°C) 16 min

goes in with what step 5 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 2 hr 31 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
10 minof the steps that give a time

One of the 6 steps never says how long it takes, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 3 hr 30 min.

  1. cook to a paste, cool it

    20 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. cream the lid and work the flour in

    not timedfrom the start

  3. mix into the tangzhong and knead 10 min

    10 minneeds you20 min in

  4. knead the butter in, rise until doubled

    1 hrwalk away30 min in

  5. portion the dough, drape a lid on each, proof 45 min

    45 minwalk away1 hr 30 min in

  6. brush and bake 350°F (175°C) 16 min

    16 minwalk away2 hr 15 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them.

You'll need oven · saucepan

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Pineapple Bun
>> category: Breads
>> tags: bun, chinese, hong kong, enriched, oven
>> counters: Bakery, Dim Sum Counter
>> aka: bo lo bao, bolo bao, boh loh bao, 菠蘿包, pineapple bun, pineapple bread, pineapple-top bun
>> pairs-with: japanese-milk-bread
>> servings: 8
>> time: 3 hr 30 min
>> step.1: cook to a paste, cool it
>> step.2: mix into the tangzhong and knead 10 min
>> step.3: knead the butter in, rise until doubled
>> step.4: cream the lid and work the flour in
>> step.5: portion the dough, drape a lid on each, proof 45 min
>> step.6: brush and bake 350°F (175°C) 16 min

Cook @bread flour{2%Tbs}(16 g) with @whole milk{1/3%cup}(80 mL) in a #saucepan{} over low heat, whisking, until it thickens to a paste, then ~cool{20%min} to room temperature.

Mix @bread flour{2 1/4%cup}(300 g), @granulated sugar{1/4%cup}(50 g), @nonfat dry milk{2%Tbs}(14 g), @instant yeast{2%tsp}(6 g), @egg{1%large}, @warm whole milk{1/2%cup}(120 mL) and @table salt{1%tsp}(6 g) into @&(~1)tangzhong{}, then knead ~knead{10%min} to a smooth, slack dough.

Knead @softened unsalted butter{3%Tbs}(40 g) into @&(~1)dough{} until it is glossy again, then cover and ~rise{1%hr} until doubled.

Cream @softened unsalted butter{5%Tbs}(70 g) and @lard{2%Tbs}(25 g) with @powdered sugar{2/3%cup}(80 g), @egg yolk{1%large}, @custard powder{1%Tbs}(8 g) and @baker's ammonia{1/2%tsp}(2 g), then work @cake flour{1%cup}(120 g) in to a stiff, rollable paste. There is no pineapple in a pineapple bun — the name is the cracked grid the lid bakes into, and the custard powder and the ammonia are what crack it. Baking powder gives a lid that spreads smooth instead of splitting.

Divide @&(~2)risen dough{} into eight balls, roll @&(~1)lid paste{} into eight discs between sheets of paper and drape one over each ball, then ~proof{45%min} until light. Drape, do not press: a lid stuck down at the edges tears rather than cracks.

Brush @&(~1)draped buns{} with @beaten egg yolk{1%large} and bake in a 350°F (175°C) #oven{} for ~bake{16%min}, until the grid has opened and gone deep gold.