Hong Kong Sausage Bun
Soft milk-bread bun baked around a frankfurter, sometimes striped with ketchup or mayo; a ubiquitous Hong Kong bakery item found in Chinatowns worldwide.
The Hong Kong Sausage Bun is a beloved bakery staple that blends Western ingredients with Cantonese baking traditions. It features a mildly sweet, soft milk bread dough wrapped around a Chinese-style or Western-style sausage—sometimes whole, sometimes chopped—and baked to a golden brown. These buns became popular in the mid-20th century as Hong Kong bakeries adapted European baking techniques for local palates, creating a wave of fusion pastries. Unlike American hot dogs, sausage buns are eaten at room temperature or slightly warm, often as a snack or light lunch. They’re found in nearly every Hong Kong bakery and have spread across Asia and into Chinatowns around the world. With their soft texture and savory-sweet contrast, they’re a nostalgic comfort food for many.
Authentic Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 Chinese frankfurters (Or regular hot dogs, cut in half)
- 3 cups Bread flour (High-gluten preferred)
- 3/4 cup Whole milk (Warm)
- 2 teaspoons Active dry yeast
- 1/3 cup Sugar (For sweet milk bread)
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter (Room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Egg (For dough)
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon milk Egg wash (For brushing)
- as needed Ketchup (For decorating, optional)
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk for 5 minutes.
- Mix flour, remaining sugar, and salt in large bowl.
- Add yeast mixture, egg, and softened butter to flour mixture.
- Knead 10 minutes until smooth, elastic dough forms.
- Place in oiled bowl, cover, rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Punch down, divide into 8 portions.
- Roll each piece into oval, place sausage in center.
- Wrap dough around sausage, leaving ends exposed, seal seam.
- Place on lined baking sheets, cover, rise 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Brush with egg wash, optional: pipe ketchup stripes on top.
- Bake 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool on wire rack. Serve at room temperature. Authentic Hong Kong bakery style!
Related Styles (kinda)
4 similar styles
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