Soft Fried Buns Recipe
Introduction
Soft fried buns are a delightful treat with a tender, fluffy interior and a golden, crispy exterior. Perfect as a snack or a light meal, these buns can be enjoyed plain, dusted with sugar, or filled with your favorite ingredients.

Ingredients
- 150 ml lukewarm milk
- 70 ml lukewarm water
- 7 g instant yeast
- 12 g honey
- 400 g all-purpose flour
- 7 g salt
- 30 g unsalted butter, room temperature
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Step 1: Stir the instant yeast into the lukewarm milk, water, and honey. Let the mixture rest until it becomes foamy, about 5–10 minutes.
- Step 2: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and unsalted butter to the yeast mixture. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, which should take about 8–10 minutes.
- Step 3: Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Step 4: Divide the risen dough into 10 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. You can also fill them at this stage if you desire.
- Step 5: Let the shaped buns rest for 30–40 minutes until they are puffy.
- Step 6: Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 175°C (350°F). Fry the buns in small batches until they turn golden brown on all sides, about 2–3 minutes per batch.
- Step 7: Drain the fried buns on paper towels and serve warm. They are delicious plain, dusted with sugar, or filled with your favorite sweet or savory fillings.
Tips & Variations
- To add flavor, try filling the buns with sweet red bean paste, jam, or a savory filling like minced pork before frying.
- Ensure the oil temperature stays consistent at 175°C for even frying without soaking up too much oil.
- If the dough feels sticky, dust your hands lightly with flour while shaping the buns.
Storage
Store leftover buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm them gently in a low oven or microwave to retain softness. Avoid refrigeration as it may dry out the buns.
How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I bake these buns instead of frying?
Yes, you can bake the buns at 180°C (350°F) for about 15–20 minutes until golden brown, though frying gives them a unique crispy exterior.
How do I know if the yeast is still good?
Yeast is active if it forms a foamy layer when mixed with warm liquid and a little sugar or honey within 5–10 minutes. If it doesn’t foam, it may be expired and should be replaced.
PrintSoft Fried Buns Recipe
Soft Fried Buns are fluffy, golden, and slightly sweet buns that are deep-fried to a perfect crisp exterior with a tender and airy interior. Made using a simple yeast dough infused with honey, these buns can be enjoyed plain, dusted with sugar, or filled with sweet or savory fillings for a delightful treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 buns 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Liquid Ingredients
- 150 ml milk (lukewarm)
- 70 ml water (lukewarm)
- 12 g honey
Dry Ingredients
- 7 g instant yeast
- 400 g all-purpose flour
- 7 g salt
Other Ingredients
- 30 g unsalted butter (room temperature)
- Vegetable oil for frying (enough to fill deep pan to approx. 5 cm depth)
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Stir the instant yeast into the lukewarm milk, lukewarm water, and honey mixture. Let it rest until the mixture becomes foamy, about 5-10 minutes, to ensure the yeast is activated.
- Make dough: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and room temperature unsalted butter to the yeast mixture. Knead everything together until the dough is smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky, which usually takes about 8-10 minutes by hand or 5-7 minutes with a stand mixer.
- First rise: Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours. This resting allows the dough to develop airiness and flavor.
- Shape buns: Punch down the risen dough to release excess air, then divide it into 10 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. If desired, you can fill the buns with sweet or savory fillings at this stage by flattening each piece, adding filling, and sealing them back into balls.
- Second rise: Place the shaped buns on a tray, cover them, and let them rest for 30-40 minutes, until they become puffy and slightly risen again.
- Fry the buns: Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or pot to 175°C (350°F). Fry the buns in small batches, turning them to ensure even golden browning on all sides, typically about 3-4 minutes per batch.
- Drain and serve: Remove the buns with a slotted spoon and drain excess oil on paper towels. Serve them plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or stuffed with your favorite fillings for a comforting treat.
Notes
- Make sure the milk and water are lukewarm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- If you want filled buns, some great options include red bean paste, custard, or savory minced meat.
- Maintain oil temperature around 175°C to ensure the buns cook through without burning.
- Use a thermometer for oil temperature accuracy.
- Store leftover buns in an airtight container to keep them soft.
Keywords: Fried buns, soft buns, yeast buns, snack recipe, fried dough, Asian buns

