Golden Honey Coconut and Red Bean Bread
Get ready to fill your kitchen with the most incredible aromas of warm milk, sweet honey, and toasted coconut. This recipe guides you through creating two loaves of the softest, most pillow-like bread you’ve ever tasted. While the process spans a few hours and requires a bit of patience, it’s a deeply rewarding baking project, even for those new to bread making. The secret lies in a clever technique that develops the dough’s structure with minimal kneading, making it surprisingly manageable. Each slice reveals a beautiful swirl of sweet red bean paste and fragrant coconut, creating a loaf that is as stunning to look at as it is delicious to eat. Gather Your Ingredients This recipe makes two standard 450g (approximately 9×5 inch) loaves. Precision is key in baking, so a kitchen scale is highly recommended! For the Main Dough: Bread Flour: 580g 2 Large Eggs + Milk: 356g total. This is a crucial step! First, weigh your two eggs (without the shells), then add enough milk to reach a combined weight of 356g. This ensures the perfect hydration level. Honey: 35g Granulated Sugar: 25g Instant Yeast: 6g Salt: 4g Neutral Oil: 50g (Corn, canola, or a light vegetable oil works perfectly) For the Filling and Topping: Sweet Red Bean Paste: 200g. Look for this in the baking or international aisle of larger supermarkets, at an Asian grocery store, or online. It’s a smooth, sweet paste made from adzuki beans and is essential for the authentic flavor. Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: 100g Egg Wash or Honey Glaze: For brushing on top. For an egg wash, simply whisk 1 egg with a tablespoon of milk or water. For a honey glaze, mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 tablespoon of warm water. Let’s Start Baking: A Step-by-Step Guide Begin by combining the…