Cute Shaped Steamed Buns: Qiaohu is Sad, His Companion Got Steamed

Flavor: Sweet fragrance; Technique: Steaming; Time: Several hours; Difficulty: Easy.

Detailed Cooking Steps for Cute Shaped Steamed Buns: Qiaohu is Sad, His Companion Got Steamed

Mix medium gluten flour + sugar + yeast + vegetable oil + milk together to form a smooth dough. Then mix in natural vegetable and fruit powders for coloring and shaping.

For the head (70g), deflate and shape into a round ball, pushing it up high (as shown in the picture).

For the ears (1g yellow, 0.5g black), shape the yellow dough into an oval, then shape the black dough into an oval, stack them together, lightly press with a rolling pin, then cut in half to form the ears.

For the white part of the face (4g), roll out into the shape shown in the picture.

Apply some milk on the face and adhere step 4. Once attached, set aside, making sure to cover with a plastic bag to prevent drying out. Next, work on the body part.

For the body (60g), deflate and shape into a round ball, pushing it up high (as shown in the picture).

For the white part of the belly (4g), roll out into the shape shown in the picture.

Apply some milk on the belly and adhere step 7.

For the hands (4g each side, total 8g), shape each side into the shape shown in the picture.

Apply some milk to adhere the hands.

The hands are now complete.

For the feet (5g each side, total 10g), shape each side into the shape shown in the picture.

Apply some milk to adhere the feet, and the pair of feet is now complete.

For the tail (7g yellow), with some black dough, shape the tail into a strip, add some black at the end of the tail, then wrap the tail from the center of the back to slightly to the side (this step is not pictured, so use your imagination).

For the nose, shape it into a triangle.

Apply some milk to adhere step 15, and press to make it a slightly flatter triangle.

Add the mouth (you can decide the expression).

Start working on the eyes, use a mold (as shown) to cut out two circles.

Apply some milk and adhere the eyes.

Then use black dough to cut out two circles.

Apply some milk and adhere them.

Finally, add watery eyes. The eyes are now complete.

Create the tiger’s stripes.

Apply some milk to adhere them.

It should look like the character “王” (king).

Work on the side patterns of the face.

The head is now complete‍️.

I undergo one-time fermentation, directly shaping the dough after kneading. Once shaped, place in a steamer over cold water for fermentation. Typically, for plain white buns without shaping, the fermentation time is 30-40 minutes. Due to the hot climate in Malaysia, I ferment over cold water. To determine if fermentation is complete, gently press down and it should feel like the fleshy part below the thumb when relaxed (as shown in the picture). If it doesn’t feel right, wait another five minutes and check again. (In general, longer shaping time means shorter fermentation time, and vice versa.) I steam over medium heat for 18 minutes due to my high gas stove heat, then turn off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes before uncovering. (My heat settings are for reference only, adjust according to your own stove to avoid boiling too vigorously.) Remember to take notes after each attempt to improve next time‍️.

Steam the head and body separately, then use a bamboo skewer to connect them. The cute Qiaohu is now complete‍️. You can also directly stick them together when hot, but the head won’t be able to rotate. Wait until it cools slightly before using a bamboo skewer to allow the head to move‍️.