Rawrrr! These lion head-shaped buns make cute gifts and you can also make them for National Day parties! Recipe courtesy of Little Miss Bento Shirley Wong.
Ingredients
- 1 portion basic bread dough using 160 g bread flour
- A little cocoa powder, mixed with a little milk/water into a paste
- Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, as needed
- Black edible food pen
Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tsps milk
- A pinch of salt
Steps
Prepare basic bread dough.
Take 100 g dough and colour it brown using cocoa powder paste. Reshape into a ball.
Set aside for first fermentation.
Degas dough and divide both plain and brown dough into 6 equal portions each. Reshape into balls,
cover and let rest for 10 mins.
Gently punch each portion of dough again to remove gas.
Divide each ball of plain dough to get 2 ears (2 g each) and the head.
Flatten dough for heads, then stuff with chocolate and reshape into balls.
Shape each portion of brown dough into a cylindrical shape long enough to wrap around each head for the lion’s mane. Wrap brown dough around heads and pinch ends to seal. Place on a lined baking tray.
Shape ears into balls and arrange beside heads.
Using a small pair of scissors, make cuts all around brown dough for lion’s mane.
Set aside for final fermentation.
Combine ingredients for egg wash and brush evenly on plain dough.
Preheat oven to 170 C (top and bottom heat, no fan).
Place tray on lowest or second lowest rack in oven and bake for 16 to 18 mins.
Remove and place on a wire rack to cool.
Draw features of lions using black edible food pen.
More details of making these buns can be found in Shirley Wong’s book Kawaii Bread, available at leading bookstores.
Recipe: Shirley Wong / Photo: Calvin Tan/Marshall Cavendish Cuisine