Bao Buns Recipe: Fluffy Steamed Bread Made Easy 2026

These homemade bao buns are soft, fluffy, and perfect for filling with whatever you like. Made with a Thermomix, they come together without any special molds, steam in the Varoma, and get folded before cooking to create their signature shape. It's an easy, versatile recipe you'll want to make again and again.

The delicate, slightly elastic crumb makes them an ideal base for all kinds of fillings—meats, fish, vegetables—which explains their popularity in Asian street food and upscale restaurants alike. Thanks to the powerful, consistent kneading of the Thermomix, making bao buns at home is much simpler than it might seem. The dough comes together easily, ferments evenly, and yields light, well-risen buns with that characteristic texture from steaming.

The result is homemade bao with a delicate texture and neutral flavor, perfect served fresh. They're impressive yet straightforward, and we recommend pairing them with fillings like chicken or hoisin pork belly. They're irresistible!

Ingredients for Bao Buns

Makes 8 buns

• 130 g water
• 20 g sugar
• 10 g fresh baker's yeast
• 250 g wheat flour
• 20 g sunflower oil
• 1 pinch salt
• 800 g water (for steaming)

How to Make Bao Buns Step by Step

1. Activate the yeast

Start by activating the yeast. Place 130 g water, 20 g sugar, and 10 g fresh baker's yeast in the Thermomix bowl. Program for 1 minute at 37°C (98°F) on speed 2.

2. Make the dough

Next, add 250 g wheat flour, 20 g sunflower oil, and 1 pinch salt. Knead for 4 minutes using the dough mode.

3. Shape into a ball

Remove the dough, shape it into a ball, and place it in a greased bowl covered with plastic wrap or a cloth.

4. Let it rise

Let the dough rest for 1 hour in a warm place until it doubles in volume.

5. Divide and fold

Once risen, divide the dough into 8 small balls. Roll each one out with a rolling pin into an oval shape, then fold in half, placing a small piece of parchment paper in the middle and another underneath to prevent sticking. Let the formed buns rise for another 30 minutes.

6. Prepare the steamer

Pour 800 g water into the Thermomix bowl. Then, set the Varoma in place and arrange 4 buns in the tray without overlapping.

7. Steam the buns

Cook the bao buns for 15 minutes using the Varoma mode on speed 1. Let them rest inside for 5 minutes before opening. Repeat with the remaining 4 buns.

Tips for the Best Bao Buns

Fillings

These buns are a blank canvas for all sorts of fillings—think chicken, hoisin pork belly, or veggies. Their neutral flavor pairs well with both sweet and savory options.

Steaming

Make sure the buns don't touch each other in the Varoma to ensure even cooking. Also, resist opening the lid during steaming to keep the steam trapped.

Make Ahead

You can prepare the dough ahead and refrigerate it overnight after the first rise. Just bring it to room temperature before shaping and steaming.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Maybe you're a lot like me and like having a stash of cozy comfort dishes, tried-and-true international favorites, and desserts that please a crowd.

On nights when I'm after something indulgent and rich, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting dessert is calling my name, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

For mornings that need to be easy and meals on the lighter side, these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular at my house, along with a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe or these vibrant Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And when my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I'm happy to whip up.

If tapas and Mediterranean cooking are what I'm craving, I'll cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, a crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a smooth Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a bright Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more dressed up.

Come lunchtime or a cozy evening meal, these are the dishes I point people toward: a warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm in the mood for street food or party fare, and that's when I'll throw together this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, a crispy Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, I'll often serve dinner alongside this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works beautifully on the side, or I'll finish the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether I'm putting together a fast meal just for me or making something memorable for friends and family.

When dessert is on my mind, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to for those times I want something elegant without much fuss. The caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake, is another sweet favorite. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

On days when I want something light and fresh, I'll usually make the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For comfort cooking with more heft, the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe are ones I recommend often.

I'm also a big fan of passing along dishes from kitchens around the world, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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