Cute Rabbit Steamed Buns for Cherry Blossom Viewing

Recipe :  Cute Rabbit Steamed Buns for Cherry Blossom Viewing

Ingredients

For the dough:

40 grams	Japanese yam
1	roughly 55 grams Joshinko
1	Joshinko (for dusting)
80 grams	Powdered sugar (sifted)
1 dash	Red food coloring

For the sweet potato filling:

100 grams	Sweet potato
20 grams	Condensed milk
10 grams	Sugar (white sugar would have a prettier finish)
5 grams	Butter

For the purple sweet potato filling:

100 grams	Purple sweet potato
20 grams	Condensed Milk
10 grams	Sugar (white sugar would have a prettier finish)
5 grams	Butter

Method

1  Sweet potato filling: Steam and strain the sweet potatoes. While they are hot, add the butter, sugar, condensed milk and mix. If the filling is too loose, evaporate the moisture by microwaving it.

2  Purple sweet potato filling: Make the filling in the same way as the sweet potato filling. If the filling is too dry, add milk or fresh cream (not listed).

3  Cool the fillings and divide into 5 portions each. Roll into balls (each should be about 25 g).

4  Batter: Grate the Japanese yam in a mortar and add the powdered sugar in 3 parts.Incorporate air as you grate with a pestle to make a fluffy batter.

5  Put the joshinko into a bowl and Step 5 on top.Fold and knead the flour into the batter.

Add flour until the batter is firm like an earlobe.

6  Divide the batter into 2 and add the red food coloring to one (dissolve powdered red coloring with water). Rub the coloring into the batter to add the color.

7  Divide the two differently colored batters into 5 and round into balls (each ball should be roughly 17 g). If they stick together, coat your hands in joshinko. Cover with cling film.

8  Shape: Stretch the batter and cover the sweet potato filling in the white batter. Cover the purple sweet potato filling with the pink batter.

9  Steam: Wrap the lid of the steamer with a dish cloth. Place the buns on a sheet of parchment paper and steam for about 9 minutes at medium-high heat.

10  Once the steamed buns have cooled, lightly cook the bottom of the steamed buns with an electric griddle at 180°C. This will prevent sticking when you lay the buns on a plate.

11  Add the design. Heat a metal skewer or similar utensil and press into the steamed buns to draw the ears and mouth.

12  Dip the reverse end of a toothpick into red food coloring (dissolve powdered coloring with water). Draw the eyes onto the steamed buns with the toothpick.

-Step 6: The amount of flour changes according to the moisture of the potato. Adjust the flour so that it is roughly the texture of an earlobe.
-The filling tastes better if it's soft. Please adjust the texture according to your taste.

Recipe by BiBi Sumire
Translated by　 COOKPAD