Chocolate Crescent Rolls With Almond Pudding

These soft chocolate almond custard buns are the kind of bakery-style treat that feels both comforting and a little indulgent at the same time.

Each bun is shaped like a croissant: the dough is divided, rolled into triangles, filled at the wide end with almond custard, then rolled up and gently curved into a crescent shape. 

Baked until lightly golden, the buns come out soft and fluffy with a rich, creamy center that becomes even more luscious when warm. The combination of chocolate dough, almond custard, and toasted almond flakes makes them perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon coffee treat.

Ingredients:

Dough:

- 200 g bread flour

- 4 g instant yeast

- 25 g sugar

- 3 g salt

- 1 large egg

- 25 ml oil

- 60 ml milk, room temperature

- 12–15 g cocoa powder

Almond Custard Filling:

- 200 ml milk

- 25 g cornstarch

- 30 g sugar

- 1 egg

- 20 g almond powder

Additional:

- Almond flakes

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough

- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the bread flour, cocoa powder, yeast, sugar, salt, egg, oil, and milk.

- Mix on low speed until the ingredients come together.

- Increase to medium speed and knead for 8–10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

- If the dough feels dry, add a little extra milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.

- Shape into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl.

- Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1½–2 hours.

2. Make the Custard

- In a saucepan, whisk together the milk, cornstarch, sugar, egg, and almond powder until smooth.

- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.

- Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching the surface.

- Cool completely before using.

3. Shape the Buns

- Divide the dough into 6 portions.

- Roll each piece into a triangle.

- Spread or pipe some filling near the wide end.

- Roll up from the wide end toward the tip, like a croissant.

- Curve slightly into a crescent shape if desired.

- Cover loosely and let rise until puffy, about 30–45 minutes.

4. Bake

- Preheat the oven to 180–190°C.

- Brush with milk or egg wash.

- Add some almond flakes on top.

- Bake for 18–25 minutes, until lightly golden.

5. Cool

- Let cool slightly before serving.

- Best eaten warm when the chocolate filling is soft.

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Matcha Baked Buns with Custard and Crumble

Soft and fluffy matcha buns baked to perfection, filled with smooth matcha pudding and topped with a delicate matcha crumble. Every bite is a harmony of earthy green tea flavor, creamy custard, and a lightly crisp topping. These bakery-style buns are perfect for matcha lovers looking for a cozy, slightly indulgent treat with tea or coffee.

Ingredients:

Dough:

- 200 g bread flour

- 4 g instant yeast

- 25 g sugar

- 3 g salt

- 1 large egg

- 25 ml oil

- 60 ml milk, room temperature

- 15 g matcha powder 

For the Filling:

- 200ml milk

- 25g corn starch

- 30g sugar

- 1 egg

- 5-10 g matcha powder

Crumble:

- 30 g butter, cold

- 25 g sugar

- 45 g flour

- 5g matcha powder (optional, for matcha crumble)

Instructions

1. Make the Crumble

- In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and matcha powder.

- Add the cold butter, cut into small cubes.

- Rub the mixture between your fingertips (or use a fork or pastry cutter) until coarse crumbs form.

- Refrigerate while preparing the dough.

2. Prepare the Dough

- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the bread flour, matcha powder, yeast, sugar, salt, egg, oil, and milk.

- Mix on low speed until the ingredients come together.

- Increase to medium speed and knead for 8–10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

- If the dough feels too sticky, add a little flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.

- Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl.

- Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1½–2 hours.

3. Prepare the Custard Filling

- Whisk or blend together all the filling ingredients.

- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.

- Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap directly touching the surface to prevent a skin from forming.

- Let cool completely before using.

4. Shape the Buns

- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface.

- Divide the dough into 6 equal portions.

- Roll each portion into a circle.

- Place a portion of the custard filling in the center, then wrap the dough around it and seal well to form a ball.

- Place the buns seam-side down on a lined baking tray and flatten them slightly.

- Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

- Cover loosely and let rise until puffy, about 30 minutes.

5. Bake

- Preheat the oven to 190°C.

- Brush each bun with milk or egg wash.

- Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the tops.

- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until lightly golden.

- If the buns brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil during the last part of baking.

6. Cool

- Let the buns cool completely before serving.

- Store in the refrigerator for 2–3 days or freeze well wrapped.

- Reheat before serving for the best texture.

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Matcha Baozi with Custard Filling

Soft, fluffy matcha baozi with a smooth, creamy pudding filling.  These vibrant green steamed buns combine the earthy aroma of Japanese matcha with a rich, silky custard center that melts in your mouth. Lightly sweet and beautifully balanced, they’re perfect as a snack, dessert, or a special homemade treat with tea or coffee.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

- 200ml milk

- 30g corn starch

- 40g sugar

- 1 egg

For the Dough:

- 240g cake flour

- 10 g matcha powder

- 4g instant dry yeast  

- 10g sugar  

- 10g cooking oil 

- 125g lukewarm water

Instructions

1. Prepare the Custard:

- Mix or blend all the custard ingredients.

- Cook over low heat until thickened. Stir constantly as it's prone to burning.

- Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap (touching the surface to prevent a skin from forming), and let it cool completely.

2. Prepare the Dough:

- Add all the dough ingredients to the mixer bowl.

- Knead on low speed for 8–10 minutes until smooth.

- Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rest for 1–1.5 hours until doubled in size.

3. Assemble the Buns:

- Divide the pudding into 9 equal portions.

- Once the dough has risen, deflate it gently.

- Roll the dough into a rope and cut it into 9 equal pieces.

- Flatten each piece into a 10 cm disc, keeping the edges thinner and the center thicker.

- Place one portion of pudding in the center of each disc.

- Bring the edges together and seal completely to enclose the filling.

4. Proof the Buns:

- Place the buns on parchment-lined steamer trays or plates, leaving space between them.

- Let them rest for 30 minutes until they become light and puffy.

5. Steam the Buns:

- Boil water in a wok or pot.

- Place the steamer trays or plate over the boiling water.

- Steam over medium-high heat for 10 minutes.

- Serve immediately.

6. Storage and Reheating:

- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

- To reheat: Steam frozen buns for 6 minutes, or thaw first and steam for 3 minutes.

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Heart-Shaped Buns with Creamy Almond Pudding Filling

Soft, fluffy buns filled with a rich almond custard, shaped into adorable hearts and topped with crunchy almond slices. These elegant pastries are lightly sweet, creamy in the center, and perfect for special occasions - or simply to treat yourself.

Ingredients

Dough:

- 220 g bread flour

- 50 g almond flour

- 5 g instant yeast

- 50 g sugar

- 1 egg

- 30 ml oil

- 80 ml milk (room temperature)

Almond Pudding Filling:

- 250 ml milk

- 1 egg

- 25 g sugar

- 25 g almond flour (powder)

- 30 g cornstarch

Garnish:

- 50 g sliced almonds

- Milk (for brushing)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Almond Pudding:

- In a small pot, whisk or blend together all filling ingredients until smooth.

- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and just begins to bubble.

- Transfer the pudding to a bowl, press plastic wrap directly on the surface, and let it cool completely.

2. Make the Dough:

- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine all dough ingredients.

- Mix on low speed until combined, then knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

- Add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.

- Transfer to a greased bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

3. Shape the Heart Buns:

- Punch down the dough to release air. Transfer to a floured work surface.

- Divide into 9 equal pieces.

- Roll each piece into a rectangle.

- Spread a portion of the cooled almond pudding over each rectangle.

- Roll each piece into a long log and seal the seam.

- Fold the log in half and attach the ends together.

- Cut it down the middle - leaving the folded end intact.

- Twist the two cut halves together and shape them gently into a heart. Press lightly to flatten.

4. Final Proof:

- Place the shaped buns on a parchment-lined baking tray.

- Loosely cover and let rise until puffy, about 30 minutes.

- Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle with almond slices.

5. Bake:

- Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).

- Bake for 20–30 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

6. Serve:

- Let the buns cool before serving.

- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat by baking briefly or steaming lightly to restore softness.

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Strawberry Pudding

Budyń is a popular dessert in Poland and other Central European countries. It is a type of creamy custard pudding, typically made with milk, sugar, and starch (such as cornstarch or potato starch), flavored with vanilla or other ingredients like cocoa powder. Budyń can be served warm or chilled and is often enjoyed as a simple and comforting dessert or snack.

Budyń is versatile and can be customized in various ways. Some variations include adding chocolate or fruit puree for flavor, or topping it with whipped cream, fresh fruit, or a sprinkle of cocoa powder. It is a beloved dessert that is enjoyed by people of all ages in Poland and beyond.

Ingredients

- 200 ml milk

- 100 g strawberries

- 30 g sugar

- 1 egg

- 20 g cornstarch

Instructions

1. Preparation:

   - In a blender, combine the milk, strawberries, sugar, egg, and cornstarch.

   - Blend all the ingredients together until smooth and well combined.

2. Cooking:

   - Pour the mixture into a saucepan and place it over medium heat.

   - Stir constantly to prevent lumps from forming and to ensure even cooking.

   - Continue to cook until the mixture thickens and comes to a gentle boil.

3. Cooling:

   - Once the pudding has boiled and thickened, remove it from the heat.

   - Allow it to cool slightly before serving.

   - Serve the strawberry pudding on its own or with additional toppings such as fresh strawberries or whipped cream.

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