Butter Sugar Buns

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A really quick, easy one proof bun. And in classic butter sugar flavor which my kids loved.

Recipe (adapted from Fawn Setoh)

250g bread flour
10g milk powder or coffee mate
45g caster sugar
4g instant dry yeast
30g salted butter
120ml fresh milk
1 egg (55g to 60g)

Topping:
1 egg for egg wash
9 butter cubes
Sugar to sprinkle

Method
1. Place all ingredients except butter in a mixing bowl and mix at KA speed 2.
2. When a rough dough is formed, add in the butter. Continue kneading at KA speed 2 to 4. Stop intermittently to scrape down sides and turn dough around. Don’t knead at speed 4 for more than 1 min.
3. After about 20-30 min, check for window pane. Then use spatula to shape into smooth round dough. Cover and rest for 15 min.


4. Place dough on flat surface. Flatten and squeeze out air bubbles with palm. Divide into 9 portions (about 55g) and shape into balls. Do this by pulling down the sides of the dough, tucking it below and pinch to close the seams. Then roll on counter top to make it round. Place in lined baking tin.

5. Proof for 1 hour (with a cup of hot water in closed, SWITCHED OFF oven) till about 2 times in size. (Or you can cover and proof on counter top.)

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6. Take the baking tin out of the oven and pre-heat the oven to 170 deg C.

7. Egg wash the dough with beaten egg. Using a pair of scissors, make slits on top and insert butter. Lastly sprinkle generously with sugar.

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8. Bake in preheated oven of 170’C for 20 min till golden brown.

9. Remove from tin, remove baking paper and cool before eating.

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83 Comments Add yours

  1. Jes says:

    Must you warm the fresh milk?
    Lots so good your bread. Thanks

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Thanks! I didn’t warm the milk and used it (and the egg) straight from the fridge. But I have the habit of placing a bowl of hot water when proofing the dough.

      Like

      1. Sc says:

        Can I use a breadmaker to do this?

        Like

      2. oladybakes says:

        Can use to knead and then take out to shape.

        Like

    2. Teo Ai Li says:

      May I know what is the size of baking tray you used? Thanks

      Like

      1. oladybakes says:

        About 8 inch by 8 inch

        Like

      2. Teo Ai Li says:

        Thank you!

        Like

      3. Angel says:

        May I ask if it is compulsory to use the milk powder/coffee mate? Will it be ok if we don’t use it please?

        Like

  2. Maria Koh says:

    Thanks for sharing recipe. Your buns look so good. May I know if the buns are still soft on the 2nd and 3rd day?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Yes, surprisingly, this is soft till second and third day! Even though it is a straight dough and single proof recipe. I had to specially keep to second and third day to test, cos it was gone so fast!

      Like

  3. chancy says:

    Looks yummy and my family would love it! Wanted to try. May I know how long can I keep after baking?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Please try, it’s garnered many good reviews. Because home made buns do not have preservatives added, you can consume for 3 days in air tight container at room temp. Alternatively keep in the fridge and microwave before eating, that’ll keep up to a week.

      Like

      1. Tan Xin Hui says:

        I tried your recipe today, a great thanks to u for sharing! To my surprise it is so soft & yummy! I will look out more recipes from you, cheers!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. oladybakes says:

        Thanks for the nice feedback, I’m so happy to hear.

        Like

      3. Asha Vasudevan says:

        Hi…
        Regarding checking for Window Pane.
        What does it show. If we don’t get it. How to rectify it?

        Like

      4. oladybakes says:

        Shows that dough has been well kneaded. Can Google window pane for breads. If you cannot get it, just make sure the dough is smooth and elastic.

        Like

      5. Joanna says:

        Hi, may I know if this recipe can be used to bake a loaf entirely in the breadmaker machine? From kneading to proofing to baking. Thank you!

        Like

      6. oladybakes says:

        Should be alright, just that I don’t have a bread maker.

        Like

  4. chancy says:

    Ok! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Molly says:

    Can the milk powder/coffee mate be replaced? Tks

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      More for flavor , you can omit it and top up with same amount of bread flour.

      Like

  6. miracles001 says:

    Hi, possibl to do this without eggs? Thanks.

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      I have never tried, you can try this eggless recipe.
      https://oladybakes.com/2016/11/20/champion-toast/

      Like

  7. Jer says:

    Can use top flour or plain flour instead?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Plain flour still ok. Top flour is a no no for bread.

      Like

  8. San says:

    Hi, I tried baking the buns with some slight changes, without the butter top (saving some calories here) and they are still soft and fluffy. Would you mind I author a post using this recipe and my adaptation, and attribute this recipe with a link?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      No problem, please do.

      Like

      1. San says:

        Thank you so much. 🙂

        Like

  9. What is K2? Can I use normal mixer with kneading function?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      KA is kitchenaid. You can try, but be careful not to overheat your mixer.

      Like

  10. If I am using bread maker what will be the different steps? I using dough mode for kneading which takes 1 hour 30 min. Should I take it out earlier to divide the dough?

    Like

  11. oladybakes says:

    I don’t have a bread maker and aren’t able to advise.

    Like

  12. Sharon says:

    Hi 🙂 May I ask what size your baking tin is?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      About 8″ by 8″.

      Like

  13. Colleen says:

    Hi Dear! I so wanna try this over the weekend. May i know you mix immediately with a dough hook?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Hi yes, mixed immediately with dough hook.

      Like

  14. Mlteoh says:

    I just baked it. Your recipe is awesome, it turn up soft and fluffy. My son loves to eat it. Indeed,
    I have a question to ask, I just use normal mixer to mix the dough for almost 40 to 50 miN’s but I have stopped it 10mins interval each time, eventhough I used mixer to knead it, I still cannot get the window pane as yours, your is very elasticity and able to stretch till very thin layer but if I get too thin it will break. May I know how to get till very thin without breaking ?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      If you think the kneading is complete, then maybe it’s the way you pull the pane, to do it gently and slowly. Another thing to try is to relax the dough as it can get rather tense just after kneading by mixer.

      Like

  15. sunny says:

    Awesome recipe, i surely wanna try it, but since i am lactose intolerant i used lactose free milk instead of fresh, than to bread buns were amazing and i also coated top layer with rabdi the taste was like heaveb

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      I’m so glad it worked for you.

      Like

  16. Joycelyn Peh says:

    May i know waht is KA 2

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Hi KA is kitchenaid. 2 is one of the speeds.

      Like

  17. Amy says:

    Hello,

    Your bread looks fantastic! I have tried your recipe and using KA too however my dough didn’t rise as big as yours and it looks yellow inside as well. Can you please advise? I even extend my proofing time to 1.5 hours.

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Could be many reasons- is the yeast ok? Dough well kneaded? Over proofing does not help, it can cause the dough to collapse and also result in alcoholic smell.

      Like

      1. Amy says:

        I tested the yeast with sugar in the water and I could see the tiny bubbles. Yes I knead to window pane. If I want to troubleshoot, should I start with yeast first because it help to rise the bread?

        Like

      2. Any says:

        I have tested the yeast with sugar in the water and I could see tiny bubbles, so I assume is ok even though not many bubbles. I think kneading was alright because it was window pane. Does it mean if I don’t knead correctly the doc gh won’t rise? If I want to troubleshoot do I start from yeast first?

        Like

      3. oladybakes says:

        Yes, if kneading is correct, then check yeast. Also don’t overproof, the dough will lose the strength to rise in oven.

        Like

      4. Jenny says:

        Can I ask why my dough breaks easily and not elastic and can’t proof ? There’s also a smell which Seems like yeast , how to cover the smell ?

        Like

      5. oladybakes says:

        I think it might have been over kneaded.

        Like

  18. Amy says:

    Thank you for your advice.

    Like

  19. Claire says:

    I made this yesterday and it was awesome! But I was greedy and put too much butter on the top of the bread, end up the butter melted and slide all the way to the bottom, making the bottom oily and a bit soggy. But the middle was cottony soft and the top was crispy and oh-so-yummy! It was completely wiped out by my family. Thanks so much for this recipe!

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      You are most welcome. And thanks for the kind feedback. My butter ooze out and melts to the side too, it happens when the bread rises.

      Like

  20. Wong Siew Fong says:

    Your recipe is just what I’v been looking for .Thank you so much. What did you mean by after about 20-30 mins do the window pane test. Is it continue to beat for further 20-30 mins? I have spoiled my K machine by beating too long on slow speed..What’s your advice? Appreciate a reply.

    Like

  21. Vicky says:

    I’ve tried this twice and it taste awesome. Thanks. Will explore and tryout other recipes soon!

    Like

  22. Karen says:

    When I made a slit, the dough very obviously flatten and did not raise again inthe oven. What could be the mistake here?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      The dough it over proofed. You can shorten the proofing time by 10 min. Otherwise dough was not well kneaded and so it had no strength.

      Like

  23. Pam says:

    hello, is it ok to place the butter inside the buns instead? If yes how do i do it? Thanks!

    Like

  24. Nicole says:

    Hi may i know can i insert butter cubes into bun and shape to round then do last proof? After that, sprinkle sugar on surface and bake.

    Like

    1. Nicole says:

      Can i use japanese bread flour yo make these buns?

      Like

      1. oladybakes says:

        Should be ok

        Like

  25. Belbel chin says:

    Hihi, may i know your method NO.2 is is that after adding butter i still knead at KA speed 2 then lastly at speed 4?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Yes that’s correct.

      Like

  26. Mona Lim says:

    Hi can I check if we place in oven with top & bottom fire or with fan

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Top and bottom

      Like

  27. Gerri says:

    Hello! Thanks for sharing your recipes! I have tried 2 – butter sugar and milk bun. Both are the best among many other recipes I tried. Bread was soft and tasty. Just want to say a big thanks! Would love to try a cake but I don’t have a stand mixer.

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Thanks for the kind comments, very encouraging.

      Like

  28. emmelineng says:

    hi, may I know what model is your KA, i have an old Phillip’s which it provide double dough hook, but i don’t think it work on the dough especially when it started to get sticky, I have to take out and hand knead on my first trial bun.

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Now I’m using a Kenwood premier major. Hand mixer is difficult, may spoil the motor.

      Like

  29. Shopexchange says:

    If we mix the dough with a breadmachine do we follow the order you have given or the machine order, which is wet ingredients first then dry?

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Either way is fine.

      Like

  30. Vivienne Grove says:

    Hi there. I am hoping to make these buns, but I am having trouble converting the recipe to cups, tsp, etc. We live in America, I am having a bit of trouble converting the measurements. Can you help me? I have converted most of the ingredients, but it doesn’t seem right? Also what if I don’t use salted butter? Can I add 1/2 tsp of salt, to balance? Thank you.

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      Sorry can’t help you there on the conversion. Yes add a little salt if using unsalted butter.

      Like

  31. Nancy says:

    Hi, I have not enough bread flour, can I substitute with plain flour?
    1:1 substitute?

    Like

  32. Susan says:

    Hello. I keep getting yeast smell each time I bake bread. Would you be able to advise? I follow the recipe accordingly. Thanks.

    Like

    1. oladybakes says:

      The yeast has become highly active leading to some fermentation with yeasty or alcoholic smell. You need to lower temperature during kneading by keeping environment cool or using cold water, and also need to shorten kneading time as much as you can.

      Like

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