Chinese Cocktail Buns

Jess was working late tonight so I decided to make her a treat for when she got home. I was going to make her some of her Nonna's bread but it is a pretty big recipe. I have been craving coconut filled Chinese Cocktail Buns for a while and we had a bag of coconut in the cupboard so I went for it.
My dad used to bring cocktail buns home when we were growing up and I remember devouring them as quickly as I could. We don't live too far from China Town and I would have no problem picking these up cheap but I never seem to carry cash and all the good places only take cash.
These turned out way better than I could have hoped. They looked and tasted like the real deal and nothing can replace how great something is fresh out of the oven.
If you cut a bit of the sugar out of the dough recipe I think you would have and awesome burger or hot dog buns. I made six buns between 6pm and 9pm.

Dough

Ingredients:

For the Yeast starter

• 1/3 cup warm water (hot shower warm)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp dry active yeast

For the rest:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 1 egg (lightly beaten)
• 3 - 4 cups flour

Directions:

1. Activate the yeast in a medium bowl by mixing the warm water, sugar, and yeast (set aside for 10 mins).
2. In a stand mixer or large bowl mix the sugar, salt and oil.
3. Add the boiling water and stir until the sugar dissolved.
4. Add 2 cups of the flour, the yeast mixture and the egg.
5. Start mixing with the dough hook and slowly add more flour until a dough ball forms.
6. Knead for around 10 min.
7. Set aside in a greased bowl, covered with plastic wrap and a tea towel, until it doubles in size (1 hour).
8. Prepare the filling.

Filling 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups coconut flakes
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 large egg (separate the yolk from the whites)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp water
• roasted sesame seeds to top

Directions:

1. In a food processor blend the coconut and sugar until fine.
2. In a small bowl mix the coconut/sugar, yolk and melted butter.
3. Punch down the dough and divide into 6 pieces.
4. Stretch and pat out the dough into ovals large enough to hold a large spoon of the filling.
5. Fill the dough and pinch it together to seal.
6. Put the filled buns seam side down on a parchment covered baking pan.
7. Cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel and let rise (another hour)
8. Mix the egg whites with 1 tbsp water.
9. Brush the buns with egg wash.
10. Sprinkle with seasame seeds.
11. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 min.
12. Broil on low for a couple minutes until they are a nice brown color.
13. Mix the honey and other tbsp of water.
14. Brush the warm buns (outside of the oven).