Homemade Aromatic Coffee Bean Buns
Richly Fragrant Coffee Bean Cookies: Making Coffee Bean Buns
Coffee bean buns are a famous specialty from Gangneung, and you can often find them sold in cafes in Seoul as well. Today, I’ve made these coffee bean buns at home in a coffee bean cookie style. These cookies offer a delightful coffee aroma and a satisfyingly crisp texture.
Ingredients
- 70g Sugar
- 80g Butter, melted
- 1 Egg yolk
- 130g Cake flour
- 20g Cornstarch
- 5g Instant coffee powder
- 2 tsp Hot water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, melt 80g of butter by microwaving it for about 1 minute until completely liquid. Set aside.
Step 2
In a large bowl, pour the melted butter. Add 70g of sugar and mix with a whisk until the sugar is partially dissolved. Don’t worry if it’s not completely dissolved.
Step 3
Add 1 egg yolk to the butter and sugar mixture. Whisk again until well combined and the yolk is fully incorporated, preventing separation.
Step 4
Sift 130g of cake flour into the bowl, ideally in 2-3 additions. Sifting helps to prevent lumps and ensures the flour is evenly distributed in the dough.
Step 5
Sift 20g of cornstarch into the bowl as well. Cornstarch contributes to a crispier texture in the final cookies.
Step 6
In a small separate bowl, combine 5g of instant coffee powder with 2 tsp of hot water. Stir thoroughly until the coffee is completely dissolved and smooth. This step is key for a rich coffee flavor.
Step 7
Pour the dissolved coffee mixture into the main dough bowl. Use a spatula to gently fold and mix everything together until no dry flour streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 8
Now, use your hands to bring the dough together into a cohesive ball. Gently knead it until all ingredients are well combined and the dough is smooth.
Step 9
Take small portions of the dough and roll them into balls. Then, shape each ball into a coffee bean by gently tapering both ends.
Step 10
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the shaped coffee bean dough pieces onto the prepared sheet, ensuring they have some space between them so they don’t spread and stick together.
Step 11
Gently press down on each shaped dough piece with the back of a spatula or your finger to create a slight indentation, resembling the natural groove of a coffee bean. This gives them their characteristic appearance.
Step 12
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for approximately 15 minutes. Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven. Bake until they are lightly golden brown.
Step 13
Once baked, carefully transfer the coffee bean cookies to a wire rack. Let them cool completely in a cool, dry place. They can be fragile when warm.
Step 14
Your fragrant and beautifully shaped coffee bean buns are ready! Enjoy their delightful aroma and delicious taste with a cup of warm coffee or milk.
