Bread Recipes

Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls

Soft and fluffy milk bread rolls filled with sweet red bean paste and shaped into adorable caterpillars. The enriched dough creates a tender crumb with a delicate milky flavor, making these playful buns perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or family baking projects.

Total
3 Hours
Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls finished dish
Jump to Recipe

Quick Recipe Summary

Cuisine
Chinese
Category
Bread Recipes
Method
Baking
Total Time
3 Hours
Difficulty
Medium
Main Ingredient
Bread Flour

About This Recipe

Soft and fluffy milk bread rolls filled with sweet red bean paste and shaped into adorable caterpillars. The enriched dough creates a tender crumb with a delicate milky flavor, making these playful buns perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or family baking projects.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Written with clear home-cooking steps so the process is easier to follow from start to finish.
  • Breaks the method into manageable steps instead of assuming you already know the technique.
  • Includes clear preparation cues that help with texture and consistency.
  • Uses eggs in an approachable way with simple, easy-to-follow cooking steps.
  • Gives the dish a clear milky sweet flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.

Ingredients

  • 160 g Bread Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • 20 g Unsalted Butter
  • 15 g Sugar
  • 1 g Salt
  • 2 g Instant Yeast
  • 40 ml Milk
  • 50 g Sweet Red Bean Paste
  • As needed Black Sesame Seeds

Ingredient Notes

These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust.

Bread Flour

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Egg

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Unsalted Butter

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Sugar

A small amount of sugar rounds out saltiness and helps create a more balanced finish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Measure all ingredients. Add the milk, egg, sugar, salt, and bread flour to the bread machine bowl, keeping the sugar and salt separated.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 1: Measure all ingredients. Add the milk, egg, sugar, salt, and bread flour to the

  2. Step 2

    Make a small well in the flour, add the yeast, and cover it lightly with flour.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 2: Make a small well in the flour, add the yeast, and cover it lightly with flour.

  3. Step 3

    Run the dough kneading program for about 18 minutes.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 3: Run the dough kneading program for about 18 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Add the butter and knead again until the dough becomes smooth and elastic and can be stretched into a thin windowpane.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 4: Add the butter and knead again until the dough becomes smooth and elastic and ca

  5. Step 5

    Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 5: Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

  6. Step 6

    Punch down the dough, divide it into two equal portions, cover, and let rest for 15 minutes.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 6: Punch down the dough, divide it into two equal portions, cover, and let rest for

  7. Step 7

    Roll each portion into a round sheet and place the red bean paste slightly off-center.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 7: Roll each portion into a round sheet and place the red bean paste slightly off-c

  8. Step 8

    Wrap the filling completely and gently roll the dough into an oval shape.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 8: Wrap the filling completely and gently roll the dough into an oval shape.

  9. Step 9

    Cut several parallel slits across the surface without cutting all the way through.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 9: Cut several parallel slits across the surface without cutting all the way throug

  10. Step 10

    Turn the dough over so the cuts face downward.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 10: Turn the dough over so the cuts face downward.

  11. Step 11

    Roll the dough tightly from one end to the other.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 11: Roll the dough tightly from one end to the other.

  12. Step 12

    Shape it into a long caterpillar-like roll.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 12: Shape it into a long caterpillar-like roll.

  13. Step 13

    Use scissors to make two small cuts at one end to form antennae.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 13: Use scissors to make two small cuts at one end to form antennae.

  14. Step 14

    Press black sesame seeds into the dough to create eyes.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 14: Press black sesame seeds into the dough to create eyes.

  15. Step 15

    Place the shaped rolls on a baking tray and proof until doubled in size.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 15: Place the shaped rolls on a baking tray and proof until doubled in size.

  16. Step 16

    Bake in a preheated 150°C (300°F) oven for about 18 minutes, covering loosely with foil if the tops brown too quickly.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 16: Bake in a preheated 150°C (300°F) oven for about 18 minutes, covering loosely wi

  17. Step 17

    Cool slightly before serving. Decorate with decorative stems if desired to enhance the caterpillar appearance.

    Milk Bread Caterpillar Rolls step 17: Cool slightly before serving. Decorate with decorative stems if desired to enhan

Cooking Tips

  • The amount of milk may need slight adjustment depending on your flour. Handle the filled dough gently to avoid tearing, and avoid rolling too tightly so the rolls have room to expand during proofing and baking.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
  • Pair it with one vegetable dish and one soup or tofu dish for a balanced Chinese meal.
  • Use the recipe card below when you want a quick cooking reference after reading the full notes.

Recipe Card

Soft and fluffy milk bread rolls filled with sweet red bean paste and shaped into adorable caterpillars. The enriched dough creates a tender crumb with a delicate milky flavor, making these playful buns perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or family baking projects.

Ingredients

  • 160 g Bread Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • 20 g Unsalted Butter
  • 15 g Sugar
  • 1 g Salt
  • 2 g Instant Yeast
  • 40 ml Milk
  • 50 g Sweet Red Bean Paste
  • As needed Black Sesame Seeds

Method

  1. Measure all ingredients. Add the milk, egg, sugar, salt, and bread flour to the bread machine bowl, keeping the sugar and salt separated.
  2. Make a small well in the flour, add the yeast, and cover it lightly with flour.
  3. Run the dough kneading program for about 18 minutes.
  4. Add the butter and knead again until the dough becomes smooth and elastic and can be stretched into a thin windowpane.
  5. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
  6. Punch down the dough, divide it into two equal portions, cover, and let rest for 15 minutes.
  7. Roll each portion into a round sheet and place the red bean paste slightly off-center.
  8. Wrap the filling completely and gently roll the dough into an oval shape.
  9. Cut several parallel slits across the surface without cutting all the way through.
  10. Turn the dough over so the cuts face downward.
  11. Roll the dough tightly from one end to the other.
  12. Shape it into a long caterpillar-like roll.
  13. Use scissors to make two small cuts at one end to form antennae.
  14. Press black sesame seeds into the dough to create eyes.
  15. Place the shaped rolls on a baking tray and proof until doubled in size.
  16. Bake in a preheated 150°C (300°F) oven for about 18 minutes, covering loosely with foil if the tops brown too quickly.
  17. Cool slightly before serving. Decorate with decorative stems if desired to enhance the caterpillar appearance.

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