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5 from 4 votes

Polo bun aka pineapple bun/melon pan (in Chinese: 菠萝包 bōluó bāo) means pineapple bun. Although it is called “pineapple” bun, it is definitely not made from pineapple. The name is originated from its appearance which has the pattern of pineapple. If you haven’t tasted this special bun, you must try it as you will surely love it!

Check out our egg tart recipe as well.

CHINESE VERSION: 自制香脆菠萝包

polo bun

Crispy Crust Polo Bun (Pineapple Bun / Melon Pan) | MyKitchen101en

Yields: 16 pieces

Ingredients:

For bun:

  • 210 ml water
  • 3 tbsps egg
  • 470 g high protein flour
  • 3 tbsps milk powder
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 3/4 tsp fine salt
  • 90 g fine sugar
  • 45 g butter (room temp.)

For crust:

  • 135 g butter (room temp.)
  • 115 g icing sugar
  • 3/4 tsp fine salt
  • 4 1/2 tbsps egg
  • 2 1/2 tsps milk powder
  • 230 g plain flour

For egg wash:

  • 3 tbsps egg
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp milk

Instructions:

Preparing bread dough:

1 Add wet and dry ingredients (except for butter) into the bread machine according to manufacturer’s instruction. Select “BREAD DOUGH” setting (about 1 hour 30 minutes).

2 When a dough has been formed, add in butter.

3 After first rising has ended, remove dough from bread machine and punch out the air.

4 Divide into 16 equal portions (each about 57 g), shape into balls.

Preparing polo crust dough:

1 Mix together butter, icing sugar and salt, then beat until light and fluffy.

2 Add in egg gradually, beat until well combined.

3 Add in milk powder and plain flour, mix well (the dough will be slightly sticky).

4 Keep in the freezer for 15 minutes.

5 Divide the crust dough into 16 equal portions (each about 35 g), shape into balls.

 

Assembling polo bun:

1 Lightly coat hands with some flour, fully wrap bread dough with crust dough.

2 Print the top with pineapple pattern using polo bun mold (or plastic knife), arrange on a wire rack (or baking pan) lined with parchment paper, set aside at room temperature to proof for 45 minutes.

3 After proofing for 30 minutes, preheat oven to 200°C/390°F.

4 Mix together ingredients for egg wash and strain through a sieve.

5 When proofing has ended, brush the top of the buns with egg wash.

6 Bake in the preheated oven at 200°C/390°F for 13-15 minutes (turn once after 10 minutes), until golden brown.

7 Allow the buns to cool for 15-20 minutes before serving (the crust will only become crispy when cooled).

Storing of polo bun:

I usually put my polo buns in airtight container and keep refrigerated to maintain the freshness.

Reheating of polo bun:

Preheat oven toaster (without tray). Put the chilled polo bun on baking tray and bake for 1 minute (2 minutes if for 2-3 buns). Switch off the oven and let the bun sits in the oven for 15 minutes to heat up thoroughly (do not bake the bun for too long or the top will burn). Let the bun slightly cools down and serve immediately (reheated bun will become dry and hard if set aside for too long).

Reminder:

1 If your home oven is not big enough to bake 16 buns at a time, separate them in 2-3 batches and bake only 1 batch at a time. If you bake 2 batches at a time (in 2 layers), it will take longer for them to be baked and browned. Baking buns for too long will make them hard and dry.

2 The temperature in the oven will slightly drop when the oven door is opened while turning the baking tray. It is advisable to preheat again to 200°C/390°F before continue baking.


Crispy Crust Polo Bun (Pineapple Bun / Melon Pan)

The name is originated from its appearance which has the pattern of pineapple. If you haven’t tasted this special bun, you must try it as you will surely love it!

Rate

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Proofing 45 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Chinese, Japanese
Servings 16 pieces
Calories 316 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

For bun:

  • 210 ml water
  • 3 tbsps egg
  • 470 g high protein flour
  • 3 tbsps milk powder
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • ¾ tsp fine salt
  • 90 g fine sugar
  • 45 g butter room temp.

For crust:

  • 135 g butter room temp.
  • 115 g icing sugar
  • ¾ tsp fine salt
  • tbsps egg
  • tsps milk powder
  • 230 g plain flour

For egg wash:

  • 3 tbsps egg
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp milk

Instructions
 

Preparing bread dough:

  • Add wet and dry ingredients (except for butter) into the bread machine according to manufacturer’s instruction. Select “BREAD DOUGH” setting (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
  • When a dough has been formed, add in butter.
  • After first rising has ended, remove dough from bread machine and punch out the air.
  • Divide into 16 equal portions (each about 57 g), shape into balls.

Preparing polo crust dough:

  • Mix together butter, icing sugar and salt, then beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add in egg gradually, beat until well combined.
  • Add in milk powder and plain flour, mix well (the dough will be slightly sticky).
  • Keep in the freezer for 15 minutes.
  • Divide the crust dough into 16 equal portions (each about 35 g), shape into balls.

Assembling polo bun:

  • Lightly coat hands with some flour, fully wrap bread dough with crust dough.
  • Print the top with pineapple pattern using polo bun mold (or plastic knife), arrange on a wire rack (or baking pan) lined with parchment paper, set aside at room temperature to proof for 45 minutes.
  • After proofing for 30 minutes, preheat oven to 200°C/390°F.
  • Mix together ingredients for egg wash and strain through a sieve.
  • When proofing has ended, brush the top of the buns with egg wash.
  • Bake in the preheated oven at 200°C/390°F for 13-15 minutes (turn once after 10 minutes), until golden brown.
  • Allow the buns to cool for 15-20 minutes before serving (the crust will only become crispy when cooled).

Storing of polo bun:

  • I usually put my polo buns in airtight container and keep refrigerated to maintain the freshness.

Reheating of polo bun:

  • Preheat oven toaster (without tray). Put the chilled polo bun on baking tray and bake for 1 minute (2 minutes if for 2-3 buns). Switch off the oven and let the bun sits in the oven for 15 minutes to heat up thoroughly (do not bake the bun for too long or the top will burn). Let the bun slightly cools down and serve immediately (reheated bun will become dry and hard if set aside for too long).

Video

Notes

This recipe yields 16 buns. 
The nutritional value for reference is for 1 bun. 
Reminder:
1 If your home oven is not big enough to bake 16 buns at a time, separate them in 2-3 batches and bake only 1 batch at a time. If you bake 2 batches at a time (in 2 layers), they will take longer to be baked and browned. Baking buns for too long will make them hard and dry.
2 The temperature in the oven will slightly drop when the oven door is opened while turning the baking tray. It is advisable to preheat again to 200°C/390°F before continuing baking.
polo bun

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 7gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 315mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 356IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bolo bao, melon bread, melon pan, pineapple bun, polo bun, polo bun recipe
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