The Best Cream Pan with Custard Filling Recipe (Japanese Sweet Buns Filled with Exquisite Pastry Cream)

You are currently viewing The Best Cream Pan with Custard Filling Recipe (Japanese Sweet Buns Filled with Exquisite Pastry Cream)

We are making Cream Pan filled with a generous amount of pastry cream. This bread has been popular in Japan since I was a child. The cream is melting and the bread is fluffy! You will be impressed with the deliciously fresh baked cream pan.

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Cream Pan
Votes: 50
Rating: 4.3
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Course Dessert
Cuisine Japanese
Keyword Valentine's Day
Cook Time 185 minutes
Servings
pieces
Translator Get Francis Mug
Course Dessert
Cuisine Japanese
Keyword Valentine's Day
Cook Time 185 minutes
Servings
pieces
Translator Get Francis Mug
Votes: 50
Rating: 4.3
You:
Please leave a 5 star rating if you like the recipe! 🙂
Add to Meal Plan
Add to Meal Plan:
This recipe has been added to your Meal Plan
Ingredients
Bread Dough
Pastry Cream (320g/11.3 oz)
* 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 ml, 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 ml
* The ingredients contain Amazon affiliate links.
Instructions
  1. First, let's make the dough using a bread maker. When you knead the dough with your hands or use a food processor, please check our Melonpan or Chocolate Cornet recipe. In the baking pan, combine the bread flour, cake flour, butter, sugar, non-fat dry milk powder, salt, beaten egg, and water. If the non-fat dry milk powder isn't available, substitute milk for the water. Place the pan into the bread maker and cover.
    First, let's make the dough using a bread maker. When you knead the dough with your hands or use a food processor, please check our <a href="https://cookingwithdog.com/recipe/melonpan-melon-bread/">Melonpan</a> or <a href="https://cookingwithdog.com/recipe/chocolate-cornets/">Chocolate Cornet</a> recipe. In the baking pan, combine the bread flour, cake flour, butter, sugar, non-fat dry milk powder, salt, beaten egg, and water. If the non-fat dry milk powder isn't available, substitute milk for the water. Place the pan into the bread maker and cover.
  2. Add the instant dry yeast to the dedicated space. The yeast will be added to the mixture while making the dough.
    Add the instant dry yeast to the dedicated space. The yeast will be added to the mixture while making the dough.
  3. Select the dough making mode, and turn on the bread machine. It will take about 1 hour to finish the first rise.
    Select the dough making mode, and turn on the bread machine. It will take about 1 hour to finish the first rise.
  4. Let's make the pastry cream while making the dough. Break the egg yolks and add the sugar.
    Let's make the pastry cream while making the dough. Break the egg yolks and add the sugar.
  5. Thoroughly beat the mixture until it begins to lighten in color.
    Thoroughly beat the mixture until it begins to lighten in color.
  6. Place a mesh strainer over the bowl, and add the cake flour and cornstarch. Sieve the powder, and combine the mixture thoroughly.
    Place a mesh strainer over the bowl, and add the cake flour and cornstarch. Sieve the powder, and combine the mixture thoroughly.
  7. The starch and gluten in the cake flour will give the pastry cream a gooey texture and thick consistency. The fine grains of the cornstarch will help make the cream translucent and add a smooth texture. Combining both advantages will make the exquisite pastry cream.
    The starch and gluten in the cake flour will give the pastry cream a gooey texture and thick consistency. The fine grains of the cornstarch will help make the cream translucent and add a smooth texture. Combining both advantages will make the exquisite pastry cream.
  8. Now, heat the milk in a pot. When the steam begins to form, turn off the burner.
    Now, heat the milk in a pot. When the steam begins to form, turn off the burner.
  9. Add half of the milk to the egg mixture a little at a time while mixing. When you've added about half of the milk, place the pot on the burner again. Fully combine the egg mixture.
    Add half of the milk to the egg mixture a little at a time while mixing. When you've added about half of the milk, place the pot on the burner again. Fully combine the egg mixture.
  10. Now, place a mesh strainer over the pot of milk, and pour in the egg mixture. This process will remove any white egg chalazas and pockets of dry flour, making the cream very smooth.
    Now, place a mesh strainer over the pot of milk, and pour in the egg mixture. This process will remove any white egg chalazas and pockets of dry flour, making the cream very smooth.
  11. Turn the heat to medium-low, and continue mixing it with a balloon whisk.
    Turn the heat to medium-low, and continue mixing it with a balloon whisk.
  12. When it begins to thicken, reduce the heat to low, and whip the cream at full speed.
    When it begins to thicken, reduce the heat to low, and whip the cream at full speed.
  13. The pastry cream begins to turn glossy, and the consistency becomes slightly weak. At this stage, keep mixing for 1 to 2 more minutes.
    The pastry cream begins to turn glossy, and the consistency becomes slightly weak. At this stage, keep mixing for 1 to 2 more minutes.
  14. Then, place the pot onto a trivet. Add a dash of imitation vanilla extract, and mix.
    Then, place the pot onto a trivet. Add a dash of imitation vanilla extract, and mix.
  15. Float a clean bowl or tray on ice water, and pour the pastry cream into it.
    Float a clean bowl or tray on ice water, and pour the pastry cream into it.
  16. Tightly cover the pastry cream with plastic wrap to avoid forming any drips since they could trigger the growth of bacteria. Quickly chill it using an ice pack. Let it sit to cool, and refrigerate the pastry cream.
    Tightly cover the pastry cream with plastic wrap to avoid forming any drips since they could trigger the growth of bacteria. Quickly chill it using an ice pack. Let it sit to cool, and refrigerate the pastry cream.
  17. And now, the dough has performed its first fermentation.
    And now, the dough has performed its first fermentation.
  18. Thinly dust a kneading board with bread flour, and remove the baking pan from the bread machine. Cover your hands with flour, and place the dough onto the board. Lightly dust the dough with flour again.
    Thinly dust a kneading board with bread flour, and remove the baking pan from the bread machine. Cover your hands with flour, and place the dough onto the board. Lightly dust the dough with flour again.
  19. With a scraper, cut halfway through the dough on the side closest to you.
    With a scraper, cut halfway through the dough on the side closest to you.
  20. Open the dough and shape it into a long oval.
    Open the dough and shape it into a long oval.
  21. Then, divide it into 8 equal pieces.
    Then, divide it into 8 equal pieces.
  22. Using a kitchen scale, adjust the weight to about 47g (1.65 oz) per piece.
    Using a kitchen scale, adjust the weight to about 47g (1.65 oz) per piece.
  23. Attach the small pieces underneath the dough, and shape it into a ball.
    Attach the small pieces underneath the dough, and shape it into a ball.
  24. Gather the dough toward the bottom, and rub it between your palms using a circular motion. Avoid rubbing it too much, otherwise the surface will be damaged.
    Gather the dough toward the bottom, and rub it between your palms using a circular motion. Avoid rubbing it too much, otherwise the surface will be damaged.
  25. Pinch the seam and close the bottom.
    Pinch the seam and close the bottom.
  26. Line up the dough balls, and cover them with plastic wrap.
    Line up the dough balls, and cover them with plastic wrap.
  27. If the temperature of the room is relatively low, place a tightly squeezed warm kitchen towel over it. Rest the dough for 15 to 20 minutes.
    If the temperature of the room is relatively low, place a tightly squeezed warm kitchen towel over it. Rest the dough for 15 to 20 minutes.
  28. And now, let's shape the cream pan. Thinly coat the baking sheet with vegetable oil. The surface of the dough easily drys out so prepare plastic wrap to cover the baking sheet.
    And now, let's shape the cream pan. Thinly coat the baking sheet with vegetable oil. The surface of the dough easily drys out so prepare plastic wrap to cover the baking sheet.
  29. Remove the kitchen towel but leave the plastic wrap over the dough.
    Remove the kitchen towel but leave the plastic wrap over the dough.
  30. Place one dough piece onto the kneading board, thinly dust the surface with flour, and slap or flatten the dough to remove the gas inside.
    Place one dough piece onto the kneading board, thinly dust the surface with flour, and slap or flatten the dough to remove the gas inside.
  31. Then, using a rolling pin, roll the dough back and forth, shaping it into a flat oval.
    Then, using a rolling pin, roll the dough back and forth, shaping it into a flat oval.
  32. With a scraper, gently remove the dough, and place it onto a kitchen scale with the clean side facing down. Measure out 35g (1.3 oz) of the pastry cream on the dough, and place it onto the kneading board.
    With a scraper, gently remove the dough, and place it onto a kitchen scale with the clean side facing down. Measure out 35g (1.3 oz) of the pastry cream on the dough, and place it onto the kneading board.
  33. You can fill each dough ball with up to 40g (1.4 oz) of the cream, but you will need skills to wrap it tightly so you might try it if your first batch is successful.
    You can fill each dough ball with up to 40g (1.4 oz) of the cream, but you will need skills to wrap it tightly so you might try it if your first batch is successful.
  34. Arrange the cream and fold the dough in half. Close the edges in the middle. Then, close the left and right sides.
    Arrange the cream and fold the dough in half. Close the edges in the middle. Then, close the left and right sides.
  35. Be sure to overlap the dough otherwise the cream may come out from the gaps. It will be challenging to wrap the soft pastry cream so chill it thoroughly.
    Be sure to overlap the dough otherwise the cream may come out from the gaps. It will be challenging to wrap the soft pastry cream so chill it thoroughly.
  36. Now, make 3 or sometimes 4 incisions along the closed edge for aesthetic appeal.
    Now, make 3 or sometimes 4 incisions along the closed edge for aesthetic appeal.
  37. Place the piece onto the baking sheet, and cover with the plastic wrap. Repeat the process and arrange 8 pieces in total.
    Place the piece onto the baking sheet, and cover with the plastic wrap. Repeat the process and arrange 8 pieces in total.
  38. Remove the plastic wrap. To keep the dough from sticking, we are placing strips of parchment paper in between. For the second fermentation, mist the dough with water if your oven doesn't have a steam function.
    Remove the plastic wrap. To keep the dough from sticking, we are placing strips of parchment paper in between. For the second fermentation, mist the dough with water if your oven doesn't have a steam function.
  39. Place the baking sheet into the oven. The second rise takes 50 to 60 minutes at 40 °C (104 °F).
    Place the baking sheet into the oven. The second rise takes 50 to 60 minutes at 40 °C (104 °F).
  40. Now, the second rise is over. Remove the baking sheet, and preheat the oven to 220°C (428 °F). With a pastry brush, coat the dough with beaten egg for glazing. Gently brush the surface.
    Now, the second rise is over. Remove the baking sheet, and preheat the oven to 220°C (428 °F). With a pastry brush, coat the dough with beaten egg for glazing. Gently brush the surface.
  41. When it reaches 220 °C (428 °F), quickly place the dough into the oven, lower the temperature to 200 °C (392 °F), and bake for 12 to 13 minutes.
    When it reaches 220 °C (428 °F), quickly place the dough into the oven, lower the temperature to 200 °C (392 °F), and bake for 12 to 13 minutes.
  42. However, with this oven, it was difficult to bake the surface evenly, so we adjusted the color by rotating the baking sheet halfway and covering the quickly browning parts with parchment paper. For this reason, we didn't lower the temperature, but in most cases, you should bake at 200 °C (392 °F).
    However, with this oven, it was difficult to bake the surface evenly, so we adjusted the color by rotating the baking sheet halfway and covering the quickly browning parts with parchment paper. For this reason, we didn't lower the temperature, but in most cases, you should bake at 200 °C (392 °F).
  43. The baking time is a rough estimate so remove the bread when it reaches the perfect golden brown.
    The baking time is a rough estimate so remove the bread when it reaches the perfect golden brown.
  44. Place the cream pan onto a cooling rack.
    Place the cream pan onto a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes

If the baking time is too long, the moisture will evaporate, and the bread will dry out. It depends on your oven but the baking time should be 12 to 13 minutes.
Depending on your bread machine, the order of adding ingredients and the space of yeast may vary so be sure to follow the instructions in the manual.
The pastry cream easily spoils so use it by the next day. You can also fill with the chocolate pastry cream that we made for our Chocolate Cornet recipe.

Cooking with Dog

Cooking with Dog is a YouTube cooking show featured by a canine host Francis and a mysterious Japanese Chef whose real name is not disclosed.
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CJ Plourde

Bow Wow! Thanks for taking such care and attention to this recipe.

Huong Nguyen

Thank you for the details instruction. One quick question, is it possible to replace the bread flour into all purpose flour with yeast ? If yes, what is the ratio ? Thank you in advance 🙂

Huong Nguyen

Yayyyyy thank you i will try later !!!!!

September

Just for confirmation, if I don’t have non-fat dry milk powder, I need to substitute 8g non-fat dry milk powder for 100ml water, is this correct? I didn’t understand where the 110ml milk came from.

September

I’m not sure what my problem is. I kept re-sealing them before and after the second fermentation. But they kept open up again and again . . But the flavor was good. Thank you for the recipe!

September

How can I make the dough using a stand mixer?

Lee

I loved this recipe. I really appreciated the detailed photos and instructions for making the custard cream filling. Love the attention to precision in weighing out each component of the pastries. They are the perfect balance of lightly sweet, fluffy, and creamy. This is a fantastic recipe in every possible way. ❤