Baked cheese buns

The “Golden-Core” Baked Cheese Buns

This dough is a “rich” dough, meaning it uses butter and milk for a brioche-like softness that stays fresh for days.

CategoryDetails
Prep Time20 minutes (+ 90 min rising)
Bake Time18–22 minutes
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Yield12 Large Buns

🍴 Ingredients

  • The “Cloud” Dough:
    • 3 ½ cups All-purpose flour
    • 1 cup Warm milk (around 43°C)
    • 2 tsp Active dry yeast
    • 1 tbsp Sugar & 1 tsp Salt
    • 4 tbsp Unsalted butter (melted)
  • The “Molten” Heart:
    • 12 cubes Sharp Cheddar or Mozzarella (about 1/2-inch thick)
  • The “Bakery” Finish:
    • 1 Egg (beaten with 1 tbsp milk)
    • ¼ cup Grated Parmesan
    • 1 tsp Dried parsley or sesame seeds

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. The Yeast Bloom

  • In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until it looks like a frothy cappuccino. This confirms your yeast is alive and ready to lift that heavy cheese!

2. The Dough Build

  • Stir in the melted butter, salt, and flour (one cup at a time).
  • Knead by hand or mixer for 8 minutes until the dough is smooth and “springs back” when poked.
  • First Rise: Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

3. The “Treasure” Stuffing

  • Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces.
  • Flatten a piece of dough into a disc, place a cheese cube in the center, and pinch the edges tightly to seal. The Pro Move: Roll it between your palms to ensure the seam is completely invisible—this prevents “cheese blowouts” in the oven.

4. The Final Proof

  • Place buns on a parchment-lined tray. Cover and let rise for 30 more minutes. They should look puffy and touch each other slightly.

5. The Golden Bake

  • Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
  • Brush the buns with the egg-milk wash. Sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley.
  • Bake for 18–22 minutes until the tops are deep mahogany gold.

The “Garlic-Lava” Hack: After baking, brush the hot buns with garlic butter. The butter will seep through the crust and meet the melted cheese in the middle, creating an “Inside-Out Garlic Bread” experience.

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