Description
Learn how to make Classic Japanese Melon Pan, a delightful sweet bread with a cookie crust. Despite its name, this treat doesn’t actually contain melon but gets its moniker from the melon-like appearance of its cookie topping.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bread Dough:
- 2 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup warm milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
For the Cookie Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk (if needed)
- granulated sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare Bread Dough: In a bowl, combine bread flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Add warm milk and beaten egg, knead, then add butter and knead until smooth. Let rise.
- Make Cookie Topping: Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolk and vanilla. Mix in flour to form a dough. Divide into discs.
- Assemble and Bake: Divide risen bread dough, top each with a cookie disc, score, sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden.
Notes
- Despite the name, melon pan doesn’t contain melon flavor—it’s named for the cookie top’s melon-like appearance.
- For a twist, add matcha powder or melon essence to the cookie dough.
- Best enjoyed the same day but can be refreshed in the oven.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 melon pan
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
