This recipe for Longevity Peach Buns (壽桃包) are light and fluffy steamed Chinese buns, shaped to resemble peaches, with a red bean paste (紅豆沙) filling. These buns symbolize long life and prosperity in Chinese tradition.
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What are longevity buns?
Longevity buns (shou bao) (壽包) are Chinese steamed buns (mantou) (饅頭) that are shaped like peaches, which symbolize long life and prosperity.
Despite their name, there is no peach in the buns. They are named so for their resemblance in shape and color.
The peach buns are soft, fluffy and traditionally filled with either sweetened lotus seed paste or red bean paste (紅豆沙).
The skin of the bun is colored pink to mimic the color of peach skin.
These Chinese peach buns are reserved for birthday celebrations, particularly for elders, as they represent good health, happiness and longevity.
Ingredients you'll need
Dough:
- all-purpose flour: regular flour (麵粉), or bao flour (包粉)
- granulated sugar (砂糖): adds sweetness to the dough
- instant yeast (酵母): or active dry yeast: acts as the main leavener and helps the dough rise
- milk powder (奶粉): optional, adds extra milky flavor
- baking powder (發酵粉): another leavening agent that helps the dough rise and retain its fluffiness
- lukewarm water (水): at body temperature, for activating the yeast
- white vinegar (白醋)
- coconut oil (椰子油): or neutral vegetable oil/refined coconut oil if you don't like the flavor of coconut
Filling:
- red bean paste (紅豆沙) or lotus seed paste: it's easier to use store-bought paste, but you can also use homemade if you have that on hand;
Decorations:
- blush: red yeast rice powder (紅曲粉): or red food coloring (紅色食用色素)
- green leaves: matcha powder (抹茶粉) / pandan extract (班蘭提取物): or green food coloring (綠色食用色素)
Where to find?
You can find these ingredients at your local Asian supermarket.
Note: red bean paste is also known as anko in Japanese or pat-ang-geum in Korean.
How to make longevity peach buns
Filling:
Divide the filling paste into 6 portions (20g each), roll into balls, and set aside covered.
Dough:
Activate yeast with sugar and lukewarm water, then mix in flour, milk powder, baking powder, vinegar, and coconut oil.
Knead into a smooth dough, rest briefly, and divide into portions for peach buns (50g each) and green leaves.
Shape the dough into balls, rest again, and prepare leaves using matcha powder and pandan extract, shaping them into small cones.
Assembly:
Flatten peach bun dough, wrap around the filling, and shape into tear-drop buns with an indented line.
Spray red color onto the buns using red yeast rice water, then attach green dough leaves with water.
Steaming:
Rest the buns briefly on parchment squares, steam from cold water to boiling (12 minutes), and let them rest before uncovering.
Cool before serving.
How to serve
Steam the longevity buns just prior to serving so they stay warm and fluffy.
Serve at birthdays, or celebrations for elders.
Pair with green tea (綠茶), warm soy milk (暖豆漿), taro coconut sago (芋頭椰子西米), coconut jelly (椰子啫喱), egg tarts (蛋撻), sesame balls (煎堆), mango pudding (芒果布丁), or red bean soup (紅豆沙).
How to store & reheat
You can freeze the buns in a freezer bag or airtight container prior to steaming for up to 3 months.
Or freeze the steamed, cooled buns in a similar manner.
If steaming from frozen, add a few extra minutes to the overall steaming time.
Other Chinese celebration recipes you may like
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Longevity Peach Buns (壽桃包)
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For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
Filling:
Dough:
- 182 g all-purpose flour (麵粉)
- 20 g granulated sugar (砂糖)
- 3 g instant yeast (酵母) or 5g active dry yeast
- 5 g milk powder (奶粉)
- 3 g baking powder (發酵粉)
- 100 ml lukewarm water (水)
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar (白醋)
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil (椰子油)
Decorations:
Green leaves:
- ¼ teaspoon matcha powder (抹茶粉)
- touch of pandan extract (班蘭提取物)
Blush:
- ½ teaspoon red yeast rice powder (紅曲粉) or sub with red food coloring (紅色食用色素)
- 2 teaspoon warm water (水)
Instructions
For the filling:
- Divide the paste into 6 portions about 20g each and form into round balls.
- Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
Make the dough:
- In a medium bowl, combine sugar, yeast, and lukewarm water. Give it a stir and let it sit for about 10 minutes to activate the yeast.
- Add all-purpose flour, milk powder, baking powder, vinegar and coconut oil into the yeast mixture.
- Knead the mixture for 8-10 minutes until very smooth and an elastic dough is formed.
- Cover and let it rest for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.
- Separate the dough into 2 portions: set aside 20g for the green leaves and leave the remaining for the peach buns.
- Divide the peach bun dough into 6 portions, about 50g each.
- Roll the dough into balls.
- Cover the dough balls with plastic wrap and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Make the leaves:
- Mix the dough for the green leaves with matcha powder and pandan extract.
- Roll the dough into a long rope, about 12" in length.
- Cut the rope into 12 small pieces. Roll each piece between your palms into a 1.5" long cone shape.
- Set aside and cover with plastic wrap.
Assemble:
- Flatten the peach bun dough with the edges being a little thinner.
- Place a filling in the center and gather the edges to enclose and seal the filling.
- Turn the bun upside down with the smooth surface facing down.
- Roll the smooth surface between your palms to create a pointy peak, to shape into a large tear drop.
- Take a spoon or silicon dough scraper to indent a line along the arch, from the bottom of the bun to the tip.
- Repeat with the remaining buns.
Color the buns:
- Dip a clean toothbrush with red yeast rice water and scrape it against the blunt side of a knife. (This will create a spray of red color onto the buns).
- Tip: place the bun into a container to prevent it from spraying all over the place. Repeat with the remainder.
Add the leaves:
- Take the matcha dough pieces, and flatten into leaves. Use a butter knife to indent some veins onto the leaves.
- Dab a little water on the underside of the leaves and stick onto the bun.
- Put one pair of leaves on each bun, between the line.
Steam the buns:
- Place the buns onto 2" square pieces of parchment paper and onto a steaming rack or bamboo steamer to rest for 15 minutes. (Don't let them rest too long).
- Add cold water to the steamer, cover and turn onto high heat.
- When you start to see steam escaping from the lid, steam for 12 minutes: 2 minutes at high heat, and reduce to medium-high to steam for the remaining 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the buns to rest undisturbed for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the steamer from the stove and allow to rest on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.
- Leave the lid slightly ajar to release steam.
- Once the steam has dissipated, open the lid and remove the buns.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Heidi
Your peach buns are so beautiful... and tasty good too! I especially love that you can make these ahead of time and then freeze them. That makes party planning so much easier!
Michelle
Thanks so much Heidi! They're perfect for celebrating those special birthdays! 😀
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
What a unique and pretty recipe! I've had European peach-shaped cookies, but I've never heard of these buns. They look amazing and so realistic!
Michelle
Yeah the appearance kinda reminds me of those Italian peach cookies, you're right! Thanks Ben!
David @ Spiced
Woah - these are so pretty! I have to admit that I haven't come across peach buns before, but I love this. Sounds like a fun recipe to make, too!
Michelle
Thanks David, these peach buns generally make their appearance at big birthday celebrations! And yes, lots of fun and creativity in making these! 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine
Your longevity peach buns turned out adorable. I don't know if ours will turn out so cute but want to give these a try this CNY. Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Michelle
Thanks Bobbi, I'm sure your peach buns will be great! They're so fun to make, Happy CNY and Kung Hei Fat Choi to you too!!
Raymund | angsarap.net
These longevity buns look absolutely delightful! The soft peach shape with the vibrant colors makes them not only beautiful but also a meaningful symbol of health and prosperity.
Michelle
Thank you Raymund! Such a special birthday treat!
Mar
These longevity peach buns are stunningly beautiful! They significantly make a senior's birthday celebration special!
Michelle
Thanks Mar, indeed these buns are not only artful in presentation, but so fluffy and delicious too! 🙂
Lim Joo Joon
Michelle has been very responsive to my various queries.
I tried the longevity pau recipe a couple of times. First, time using the red dye for birthday eggs. But is turned out orangy in color. The second following strictly Michelle’s recommendation of using red yeast rice . Turn out better but not that vibrant red.
Michelle
Thanks for trying the recipe and for your feedback! 🙂