Roti Boy (Coffee Flavored bread with a melted brown sugar butter filling)

Okay.. This bread is originally from Malaysia where they just sell one type of bread! It's how good this is! You can smell the coffee aroma from far far away... It is best consumed when they just come out from the oven! Seriously! The melted butter on the inside and the crispy coffee flavored topping and the soft sweet bread are simply irresistible! I don't really drink coffee but I bet this bread is a soulmate of coffee!

There are 3 parts of making this bread. I know.. I know.. It seems like it's a lot of work! But I tell you that it is worth every bite!

This is the second time I made it and it came out better than the first time I made them.

The first part of this bread is making the yummy Filling:

• 1 2/3 sticks of butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup brown sugar

Here's how you make it:

1. Beat in butter in mixer on medium speed with paddle attachment for 3 min.

2. Blend in vanilla and brown sugar.

3. Spoon in mixture into bowl and refrigerate until firm.

4. Divide mixture one tbsp per portion and shape into a ball. Keep refrigerate until ready to use.

The second part is making the Topping:

• 1 2/3 sticks of butter
• 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp coffee flavoring
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 1 2/3 all purpose flour, sifted

The steps:

1. Beat butter and icing sugar in mixer with paddle attachment on med speed for 5 min. until mixture is light and fluffy.

2. Gradually beat in eggs.

3. Mix in coffee flavoring.

4. Sift flour onto mixture and mix on low speed until combined.

5. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Now... The third part is the important part, which is the Bread:

• 3 1/2 cups of bread flour
• 1/2 stick of butter, softened
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp yeast
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 270 ml milk

Here's how you make 'em:

1. Mix sifted flour, sugar, and salt in mixer with dough hook on low speed for 1 min.

2. Mix in yeast.

3. Combine egg and milk. (I always put the milk in the microwave for 1 min before I mix it in)

4. Mix on low speed for another min.

5. Mix on med speed for 8 min.

6. Mix in butter. Mix for 5 min. on med speed until soft, smooth, and elastic (but not sticky) dough forms.

7. Shape dough into a ball.

8. Divide the dough into 55gram portion (honestly I didn't even measure each portion... I just divide it into 12 portions).

9. Roll each portion into a ball. Cover them with plastic wrap for 10-15 min.

To shape the buns:

• Flatten a ball of dough with the palm of your hand.
• Place a ball of filling in the center of the dough.
• Gather the edge and pinch to seal (Be SURE to seal WELL or the filling will LEAK out during proofing or baking! Yeah, the first time I made this, the filling leaked during the proofing and I couldn't save them so be sure you pinch it tight!)
• Roll it onto a ball (The second time I made this bread, I put the side that I pinch on top)

10. Place each bun about 3 inches apart on greased baking trays.

11. Proof for 45 min. in a warm place

12. Pipe the topping on top of the buns in a spiral.

13. Bake in preheated oven at 390F for 12-15 min. or until buns are slightly brown and smell delicious!!!

Yes, it requires quite some time to make this bread but if you have a SPARE time at home, pleaseee do give it a try! It is mouthwatering delicious!

For variations, you can only make the sweet dough and you can fill 'em with anything you want really! I put banana and nutella inside! Yummmm! Or you can try ham and cheese or you can make a "hotdog" style bread by putting sausage, ketchup, and mustard. I think I'm gonna try that next time.

Enjoy baking at home and sharing with people you love...

Peanut butter Swirly Brownies

My first post of this food blog! Weeeeee

Yesterday my girlfriend, Tiffy and I were trying out this recipe from the "The art and soul of Baking" book called Peanut Butter and Chocolate Marble Brownies. Yummm!

For those who like peanut butter and chocolate, this is an easy and delicious recipe!

Here, here the ingredients:

• 5oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (I always use Ghirardelli baking chocolate, it's the best!)
• 1 stick (4oz.) of butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I use JIF, but you are welcome to use your favorite peanut butter).
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp of rhum, optional (I always put rhum in any dessert!)
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts, optional (I didn't use it in my brownies)

Here's the steps:

1. Preheat oven 350F. Spray a 13x9 pan with non stick spray.

2. Cream the butter and brown sugar together in med high speed for 5 min. or until they are light in color. In a mean while, prepare the chocolate and flour mixture.

3. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler (here's a definition of double boiler just in case if you don't know what it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_boiler)

4. Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder together.

5. After the butter mixture is done, add the peanut butter and mix at med high for 30 secs.

6. Crack the eggs with fork to blend and witht he mixer running med speed, add the eggs one tablespoon at a time. Add the vanilla. Scrape the bowl (It's very important to scrape the bowl because you want to make sure everything is well blended).

7. At the lowest speed, add your flour mixture all at once just until combined. Scrape again.

8. Stir half of the peanut butter mixture into the melted chocolate.

9. Pour the rest of peanut butter mixture into the prepared pan. And then on top, add the chocolate mixture. And then swirl the two mixtures together with a fork or small pairing knife.

10. Bake it in the oven for 30-40 min. (Yesterday it took me only 30 min)

After it came out from the oven, we just can't resist to try it. Tiffy ate it with french vanilla ice cream! mmmhhh.. Super good!

A glass of milk wouldn't hurt either...

So hopefully you droll by now and you want to try out this recipe and eat it yourself or just share with your lovely ones.

I can't believe I enjoy writing this food blog as much as I am trying out new recipes!

Let me know if you have any questions or comments...