If you ever walk into a Chinese bakery, you’ll be greeted by an irresistible aroma of freshly baked breads and pastries. Among the wide variety of options, one popular favorite is the ham and cheese bun — a soft, fluffy bun filled with savory ham and gooey cheese. It’s a snack that perfectly balances sweet and salty, and it’s often enjoyed as breakfast, a midday snack, or even as a light meal. In this post, I’ll guide you through the process of making this delicious treat at home, with a few tips to get that bakery-style soft milk bread that Chinese buns are known for. Whether you’re already a fan or new to this delight, this recipe will make you fall in love with the humble yet irresistible ham and cheese bun.
Why this recipe?
Very simple and foolproof milk bread dough with minimal hands-on time Your kitchen mixer will do most of the work for you The bread is light and soft, with a pillowy texture The shape and the taste of these ham and cheese buns are truly Chinese bakery-style You can make them ahead of time and they will stay soft and moist
Ham and cheese buns ingredients
Ingredients for the milk bread
You only need eight ingredients for the milk bread dough:
Bread flour Yeast Sugar and salt Whole milk Sweetened condensed milk Butter Egg
Ingredients for the filling
The ham and cheese filling requires four simple ingredients:
Sliced ham Shredded mozzarella cheese Mayo Dried parsley
How to make ham and cheese buns
Prepare the milk bread dough – first rise
After the dough has proofed, punch it down and make it into a ball. Then divide the dough into eight even pieces. Shape each piece into a small round ball.
Assemble the ham and cheese buns – second rise
Assembling the ham and cheese buns might sound confusing, so I’m using these step-by-step pictures to show you exactly how to make them: Now you need to place the assembled buns onto a lined baking sheet, and let them rest again.
Make the cheese filling
Make the cheese filling by mixing the shredded cheese, mayo and dried parsley.
Fill the cheese filling and bake
Once the assembled buns have finished the second proofing, brush them with egg wash. Then fill the center of the buns with the cheese filling. Bake the buns at 350°F (176°C) for 18 minutes until golden. The buns will be soft, moist and fluffy, with crispy ham edges and melting cheese on top. It smells so good at this point that I always want to bite into a piping hot bun immediately. And it’s very difficult to stop eating once you start!
How to store and reheat ham and cheese buns
You can store the ham and cheese buns loosely covered at room temperature if serving within an hour or two. Or in a sealed container at room temperature after fully cooled, if you’re planning to serve them the same day. Store the buns in a sealed container in the fridge for up to two days, or in the freezer for up to three months. I highly recommend reheating the buns in the oven to warm them up just before serving, so they will have the best texture. Chinese bakery-style ham and cheese bread is a comforting, nostalgic treat for many and a delightful discovery for those new to Asian bakery fare. It combines the best of both sweet and savory worlds, and the soft, fluffy bread makes it a crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Give this recipe a try and experience the magic of freshly baked ham and cheese buns in your own kitchen! Trust me, once you’ve had these warm, melty delights, you’ll be making them again and again.
More Chinese bakery recipes
Corn Mayo Bread (玉米沙拉面包) Pineapple Cake (凤梨酥), A Simplified Version Taro Bread Portuguese Egg Tart (葡式蛋挞, Pastel de Nata) Chinese Walnut Cookies (核桃酥) Red Bean Bread (豆沙包)
