Korean Sweet Red Bean Bun
Quick answer
Danpat-ppang is a Korean sweet red bean bun made from a yeasted dough of bread flour, sugar, butter, and egg, put through a one-hour first rise and thirty-minute second r...
What makes this special
- Two proofing stages produce an airy crumb and a soft shell for these sweet red bean-filled buns.
- Two-stage proof: 60 min then 30 min for an airy crumb
- Exactly 30g red bean paste sealed tight before baking
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Mix 300g bread flour, 40g sugar, and 5g yeast evenly in a bowl.
- 2 Add 1 egg and 30g butter, then knead for 10 to 12 minutes until the dough tu...
- 3 Shape the dough into a ball, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
Danpat-ppang is a Korean sweet red bean bun made from a yeasted dough of bread flour, sugar, butter, and egg, put through a one-hour first rise and thirty-minute second rise before baking at 180 degrees Celsius for fifteen minutes. Each bun is filled with about thirty grams of sweet red bean paste and sealed shut, so the paste softens into a dense, sweet layer inside as the bread bakes. Skipping the second rise produces a tight, dense crumb, so both fermentation stages matter. An egg wash brushed across the surface gives the bun a glossy, deep brown finish, while the yeast-leavened interior stays pillowy and moist. The concentrated sweetness of the red bean filling sits in contrast to the mild, lightly enriched dough around it. Danpat-ppang has held its place on Korean bakery shelves for decades and remains one of the first items regulars reach for.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Season
Mix 300g bread flour, 40g sugar, and 5g yeast evenly in a bowl.
Add 150ml lukewarm water in several additions, mixing until no dry flour remains and the dough gathers into a rough mass.
- 2Step
Add 1 egg and 30g butter, then knead for 10 to 12 minutes until the dough turns smooth, stretchy, and slightly tacky.
If it sticks heavily to your hands, rest it briefly, then continue kneading.
- 3Control
Shape the dough into a ball, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
It is ready when it has doubled and a light finger press leaves a mark that returns slowly.
- 4Step
Press the dough gently to release gas, then divide it into 8 pieces.
Flatten each piece, place 30g sweet red bean paste in the center, gather the edges, and pinch the bottom firmly closed.
- 5Step
Place the buns seam side down on a baking tray, leaving space between them.
Let them proof for 30 minutes, until they look puffed and spring back slowly when pressed lightly with a fingertip.
- 6Heat
Brush the tops with a thin, even layer of egg wash.
Bake in a 180C preheated oven for about 15 minutes, until the surface is glossy and deep brown, then cool briefly before serving.
After the steps
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