Description
These Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pineapple Buns are a delightful fusion of soft, fluffy bread filled with a sweet cream cheese and fresh strawberry mixture, topped with a golden, crumbly pineapple-style topping. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, these buns offer a wonderful balance of creamy, fruity, and buttery flavors with a charming textured crust resembling a pineapple.
Ingredients
Scale
Bun Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup water (if needed for dough consistency)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced
Pineapple Topping
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Yellow food coloring (optional, to create the “pineapple” look)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bun Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, instant yeast, and salt evenly. Add the warm milk, softened butter, egg, and vanilla extract and mix until the dough begins to come together.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Add water little by little if the dough feels too dry or stiff, to reach the perfect consistency.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and leave it to rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the diced strawberries ensuring even distribution, then set aside.
- Prepare the Pineapple Topping: In another bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined. If desired, add a few drops of yellow food coloring to create the pineapple-like golden color, then set aside.
- Shape the Buns: Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a smooth ball and flatten into a disc shape.
- Fill the Buns: Place a spoonful of the cream cheese and strawberry filling in the center of each disc. Fold the edges over the filling, pinching to seal completely.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the sealed buns seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Apply Pineapple Topping: Roll or gently pat each filled bun into the pineapple topping mixture so that it forms a thick, crumbly layer covering each bun evenly.
- Second Rise: Let the buns rise again for 30-45 minutes, until puffy and enlarged.
- Bake the Buns: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the buns for 18-20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and the topping appears slightly cracked.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the buns warm for the best experience of soft bread, creamy filling, and crisp topping.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh strawberries with frozen ones; just thaw and drain excess moisture before adding.
- If you do not have yellow food coloring, the pineapple topping can be left pale; it will still taste delicious.
- To store, keep buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Reheat buns gently in the microwave for 15-20 seconds before serving to enjoy warm filling.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for smooth mixing.
- Kneading is essential for developing gluten to achieve a soft, elastic dough texture.
- The second rise is important for a light, fluffy bun texture; don’t skip or rush this step.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bakery, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion / Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
