Whenever I hear the term “hot dog buns”, the $1 hot dog buns from Ikea / Costco automatically come to mind. Don’t get me wrong, I love the old-school hot dog buns that many consider as comfort junk food. I’ve even heard that the ones in New York are probably the best! … oh wait! Try Vancouver’s Japadog if you haven’t! 😉
In Asia, however, the bakeries do get very creative in incorporating their hot dogs to their buns! Asian “hot dog buns” have become a staple in every Asian bakery, be it Indonesian, Singaporean, Hong Kong, Gangnam (lol) etc. So, here’s a simple yet professional-looking way to make hot dog buns… Asian style!
Asian Hot Dog Buns (Caterpillar Buns)
Recipe from Seri Masak femina Primarasa's "Aneka Roti" (bought this book from Jakarta's Gramedia!)
Dough
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast (3.5g)
- 1/2 cup milk (125ml)
- 1/3 cup sugar (35g)
- 1/4 cup butter (60g)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
This dough recipe is very similar to the ham and swiss rolls I made last year
Filling and Topping
- 8 hot dogs / sausages
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese
- 1 stalk green onions
- Mayonnaise
Directions
- In a small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar and yeast in 1/4 cup milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the other 1/4 cup milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in sugar, butter and salt; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
- In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk mixture, egg, salt and 1/2 cup flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. I used my stand mixer with the dough hook on the lowest speed to mix my dough. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
- Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place (approximately 100F / 40C) until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
- Punch the dough and knead. Separate into 8 equal pieces, each weighing approximately 60g. For each piece, roll out the dough, flattening into a rectangle. Place a piece of hot dog on the edge of the rectangle, and roll to wrap the hot dog completely. Make 4 or 5 deep incisions on the hot dog buns, but still keeping each piece intact, being careful not to cut them completely. For each piece, rotate facing up in opposite directions. Arrange them onto a prepared tray (greased or laid with parchment paper), and let rest for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
- Pipe with mayonnaise, then top with shredded cheese and green onions.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
Ta-dahhhh! These buns are so easy but they look really good! My family really enjoyed them and their first reactions upon seeing these were “Whaaat?! You made that? I thought you bought them!”. Go impress your friends and family with these! ❤
Anyway, it’s tax season again! I usually dread this period but I especially dread it this year because I’m basically doing my taxes from a million miles away. Getting all my t4 slips is such a paaaaain. lol. Alright peeps! Until then!
Sweet Samsations 
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Who needs regular hot dogs I must say! 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Two words come to mind yet again, “gimme gimme” and “master baker!” These re the exact kind of crbolholic fuel is need when shopping in HK or elsewhere to give my retails spending sprees a little boost, aka when I need more energy and can shop till I drop!
I’ve never known what they were called beyond hot dogs, may I add caterpillar buns sounds much more awesome 😉
Wow that really is an Asian style hotdog, I am impressed as I only see this in Asian bakeries.
These look DELICIOUS!!!! just like what you would see in asian bakeries!! YUM!
These are the fanciest looking hot dog buns, ever! Really like the presentation. Yum!
Your buns look better than the ones selling in Asian bakery…thanks for sharing the recipe Sammie, I must give this a try.
Have a great weel 🙂
How fun! What a great idea!
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Love it! Your ones look EXACTLY the same as the ones in the bakeries here in Hong Kong and the ones in Korea. This will be a recipe we’ll be dying to try when we’re back in NZ, far away from such Asian Style meaty-bread treats 🙂
This looks like a real treat Sammie!
I’ve never tried Hot dog buns like this ones. Looks absolutely stunning and yummy.
Wow those are so original! You are so right, in Asia they do have their hotdogs baked in bread so many different ways. They never really offer a hotdog in a bun. These wrapped hotdog buns always one of the items in the pastry shops in HK. I love your step by step photos. Wishing you a super week. Take Care, BAM
looks amazing as usual! these are the buns that my brothers will willingly shell out S$2 to buy because they think it tastes like pizza!
This actually looks like a great way to eat hot dogs!!!
These are so fun!!
These look delicious! I love hot dogs + love this asian twist on them. Want!!
I do so enjoy these at my Asian bakery…yours tops it though!!
Good luck with the tax. What a chore! I love the look of this and I’m glad you said it’s easy because I thought it looked complex. I’ve seen these in bakeries but homemade is so much better xx
I was just talking to a friend about my love for Asian buns! They’re so tasty and I love that you’ve got a recipe for one of my most often purchased ones! 🙂
My kiddos love Pigs in Blankets…and this looks like a more elegant version that I would enjoy, too!!!
These are crazy fun. I bet they would be a huge hit at a summer party, too.
I love your buns. This is very inventive and I can see myself making this for a party. I love this.
OMG, Sammie! I love these buns! There’s a Korean bakery nearby that makes hot dog buns, but it’s just a hot dog rolled in the dough – a large pig-in-blanket. Your buns are gorgeous and spectacular, little works of edible, eclectic art.I want one..no two..so bad right now!
gorgeous presentation.
I never knew a hot dog could look so GOOD 🙂
These look delicious! Hot dogs are a favorite in my house, I love this fancier version!