Taiwanese Style Sausage Buns (Sponge-Dough Method)

Instructions

1. Make the Sponge Dough the night before. Dissolve the instant dry yeast with lukewarm water, then add the bread flour and mix until a dough is formed, then hand knead for ~5 mins.
2. Put the sponge dough in an airtight container and put it in the frig overnight to let it ferment for 15-17 hours.

NEXT DAY

1. Put the bread flour, milk powder, sugar, and milk (half portion) in the mixing bowl, then tear the ready-to-use sponge dough into small pieces and put in the mixing bowl as well.
2. Turn to low speed to mix together the ingredients, meanwhile slowly pouring in the rest of the milk; mix for around 2 minutes
3. Once a dough is formed, turn to high speed and add salt; mix for around 8-10 minutes
4. Check if the dough is elastic enough and the broken edges are zigzag shape
5. Add unsalted butter and turn to low speed, mix for around 2 minutes
6. Change to high speed and mix for around 5-8 minutes, until the dough is even more elastic than before, and the broken edges are smooth
7. Shape the dough into a big ball and put in a bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and move to a warm corner for fermentation, needs approximately 30-45 minutes (the dough is done fermenting if you poke a hole into the dough and the hole doesn't shrink back)
8. Get rid of the big air bubbles from the dough, then divide the dough into 8 portions, each ~65g
9. Shape all 8 doughs into a circular ball, then cover with a semi-wet towel and let them rest for 15-20 minutes
10. Prepare 8 hot dogs, cut off the two sides
11. Wrap the hot dogs with the doughs and make them into a flower shape (refer to video)
12. Put the bread into the oven for final fermentation (can put 2 cups of hot water in the oven), needs approximately 1 hour
13. Combine some minced spring onion, 1/2 egg mixture, salt, black pepper, and oil
14. When the bread is done fermentation, brush a thin layer of egg mixture, then put some spring onion mixture on the center of the bread. Can also sprinkle some white sesame.
15. Put the bread at the bottom rack and bake at 180 degrees C for 15-18 minutes (depending on your oven)