Description
These Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pineapple Buns are soft, fluffy sweet buns filled with a creamy mixture of fresh strawberries and cream cheese, topped with a signature crumbly golden ‘pineapple’ crust. Perfect for a delightful breakfast or afternoon snack, these buns combine a tender yeast dough with a rich, fruity filling and a sweet, buttery topping that cracks beautifully during baking.
Ingredients
Scale
Bun Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup water (if needed for dough consistency)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced
Pineapple Topping
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Yellow food coloring (optional, to create the “pineapple” look)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bun Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, instant yeast, and salt to create the dry base for the dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the warm milk, softened butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until the dough just begins to come together into a rough ball.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until it is smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky. Add water sparingly if the dough feels too dry to reach the right consistency.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and allow it to rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth.
- Add Strawberries to Filling: Gently fold freshly diced strawberries into the cream cheese mixture, ensuring even distribution without breaking the berries.
- Prepare the Pineapple Topping: Cream together softened butter and sugar in another bowl until light and fluffy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients for Topping: Add flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until the topping forms a cohesive dough.
- Add Yellow Food Coloring: If desired, mix in a few drops of yellow food coloring to achieve the classic pineapple bun golden hue.
- Set Aside Topping: Leave the prepared topping dough at room temperature while assembling.
- Shape the Buns: After the dough has risen, punch it down to release air. Divide it into 12 equal portions.
- Form Dough Balls: Roll each portion into a smooth ball and flatten it gently into a disc shape.
- Fill the Buns: Place a spoonful of the cream cheese and strawberry filling in the center of each disc. Fold the dough edges over the filling and pinch to seal tightly.
- Place Buns on Tray: Arrange the sealed buns seam-side down on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Apply Pineapple Topping: Roll each filled bun gently into the pineapple topping dough, ensuring an even, thick crumbly layer covers the top.
- Second Rise: Let the topped buns rest and rise for another 30 to 45 minutes until they puff up and look slightly larger.
- Preheat the Oven: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
- Bake the Buns: Bake the buns for 18-20 minutes until they turn golden brown and the topping shows characteristic cracks.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the buns from the oven and allow them to cool briefly before serving.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pineapple Buns warm to enjoy their soft texture and luscious filling.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for easier dough mixing and kneading.
- If dough feels too dry, add water gradually; if too sticky, add a little extra flour.
- Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened to prevent lumps in the filling.
- The optional yellow food coloring helps achieve the traditional pineapple bun look but does not affect flavor.
- Store leftover buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Reheat gently in a microwave or oven before serving to restore softness.
