Long time no see! I've been gone because I recently just came back from a trip to the Philippines! And to be completely honest, I did not want to leave that place but I also couldn't wait to come home to share my take on this amazing sweet treat that I've discovered on my trip to the motherland.
I initially found this treat because my Lola (grandma in Tagalog) needed to buy some to bring back home for my cousins in Colorado. And the only place that sells these delicious treats is in Chowking, a famous fast food restaurant in the Philippines.
So what is Choco-pao?
In the Philippines we have a steamed bun called, "Siopao." It's usually filled with a meat mixture or a meatball. But instead of meat, Choco-pao is replaced with a yummy chocolate filling making it a sweet treat! I have such a sweet tooth and this pastry fills those cravings!
So without further ado, here is my take on making this yummy treat in your kitchen!
CHOCO-PAO RECIPE
yields: 10 servings
FILLING:
- 1/4 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- bag of chocolate chips
- bag of white chocolate chips (optional)
BREAD DOUGH:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1 pouch dry active yeast
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tablespoon salted butter (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon oil (I used canola)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) In a bowl, mix together the warm water, 1 tbsp sugar and a packet of active dry yeast. Let it stand for 5 minutes.
2) In a big bowl, combine the flour, the rest of the sugar and the baking powder. Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients along with the butter. Mix until dough forms.
3) Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for 5 minutes to work the gluten. Coat the dough and bowl with oil and place the dough back into the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap/a dark towel and let the dough rise for an hour or until the size doubled.
4) Make the filling: in a microwavable bowl, add the sweetened condensed milk and half of the chocolate chips. Heat in the microwave in 30 sec increments, stirring the mixture in between until the chocolate is melted. Add the rest of the chocolate chips and mix well. It should form into a thick spread. Let it cool. When cooled, the filling should form into a paste.
5) Once the dough has doubled in size, punch the air out of the dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Add cocoa powder and knead it in lightly. The mixture should be marbled/swirled. Then roll the dough into a log and divide into 10 equal portions.
6) Form one portion into a ball and flatten it into about 4-5 inch circle. The edges should be thinner than the middle. Scoop a tablespoon of the chocolate filling along with a generous 1/2 tablespoon of chocolate chips and place it in the middle. Gather the edges towards the middle and pinch and twist to seal the ends together. Place a piece of wax paper at the bottom.
7) Repeat with the remaining dough balls. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes to rise a bit more.
8) Place the buns in the steamer, leaving an inch of room in between each bun. Steam for 10-15 minutes. Once done, let the buns cool for a bit before serving.
Notes:
- Do not overknead the dough, it'll make the texture of the dough in the end tough. Overkneading can prevent the dough from rising well and will not produce its fluffy texture.
- You're welcome to freeze the siopao! After it's been steamed and cooled down, you can transfer it into a ziploc bag and place it in the freezer.
- To reheat your Choco-pao, cover the bun with a damp paper towel and microwave. About 30 sec for refrigerated buns or 1 1/2 minutes for a frozen one.
Verdict: These buns are sooooooo good! Not gonna lie, I think they are much better than the Chowking version. The dough is so soft and fluffy and the filling is just the perfect amount of the sweetness. The salted butter in the dough helps balance out the sweet filling.
Follow along with this video:
I hope that you give these buns a try. Save this recipe by pinning it below and spread the word by sharing it with others! Let me know how it goes and good luck!
