Sweet Buns with Pastry Cream Filling

Ingredients:

For the Roux:

All Purpose flour - 1/4 Cup

Water - 1/4 Cup

Fresh Whole Milk - 1/4 Cup

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For the Dough:

All Purpose Flour - 2 Cups

Instant Dry Yeast - 1 Tbsp

Sugar - 3 Tsp

Full Cream milk Powder - 2 Tbsp

Lightly Beaten Egg -1 

A Pinch of Salt

Lukewarm water for Kneading

1 Lightly Beaten Egg + 3 Tbsp Milk to Brush Over

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For the Filling:

Fresh Whole Milk - 2 Cups

Sugar - 1/2 Cup

Cornstarch - 1/4 Cup

Egg Yolks - 2

Butter - 1 Tbsp

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For the Glaze:

Warm Bee Honey - 1/4 Cup

2 Tbsp All Purpose Flour + Water (mixed to a semi-creamy consistency to pipe swirls)

Method:

1. Let's make the roux first. On a heated pan, add the water and milk. When it reaches the boiling point add the flour and whisk thoroughly on the lowest flame for few minutes. Set it aside.

2. Mix all the (dry) dough ingredients along with the previously made roux, and knead well by adding small amounts of water. Once the dough turns less tacky to touch, cover with a damp cloth and set in a warm place to prove.

3. Start preparing the pastry cream. Dissolve sugar in milk and bring it to boil. Then turn of the heat. In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks and cornstarch. Whisk until it turns pale yellow and creamy. Slowly add the milk into the cornstarch mixture while whisking vigorously(this is to avoid the eggs getting cooked to the heat of the milk). Now cook the whole mixture again while stirring continuously. When it starts to thicken, transfer to a glass dish (or any other heat proof dish). Cover closely with cling film and refrigerate once cooled down.

4. Take the well-risen dough and divide into equal parts, each of which is approximately a size of golf ball.

5. Take on ball and roll it to a small circle. Place a spoonful of chilled pastry cream in the middle. Wet the edges with water and seal properly. Shake within your palm to make it look like a neat sphere. Repeat the same for the rest as well.

6. Place the prepared buns on muffin cases and arrange on the baking tray. Let it rest for 20 minutes before being baked.

7. Brush with egg+milk mixture. Using the flour+water mix, pipe swirls as shown in the picture above.

8. Bake them at 200C until they turn lovely golden brown.

9. Once removed from the oven, brush warm honey on top for a tempting glossy look.

Perfect with a cup of Cappuccino!