Turtle-Shaped Melon Bread

I remember the last time I was in Japan for vacation, there was a small bakery near our hotel that would always sell different buns in the shapes of different animals.

Although I don't recall turtle buns being on the menu there, these guys are almost too cute to eat...almost.

This recipe makes 8 adorable turtles for you to nom on.

SHELL

3/4 cup cake flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup butter

1 egg (medium)

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp matcha powder or few drops green food colouring

few drops melon oil (optional)

BODY

2 1/4 cups bread flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dry yeast

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp shortening

1 egg yolk (save whites for brushing)

1/4 cup sour cream

1/3 cup water

Bake at 350 F for 13-15mins, just be careful as these babies tend to burn easily.

DIRECTIONS

Let's make the shell first. Mmm look at all that soft, delicious butter...

Cream the softened, room-temp butter with some sugar in a mixing bowl. When uniform, add 1 beaten egg a little at a time.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and sift into the butter cream mixture. Add the melon oil and matcha or food colouring and fold in gently with a spatula until the dough forms a ball.

I used food colouring this time simply because I didn't have any matcha powder at home, but would definitely recommend it as a healthy alternative to food colouring haha. 

Split the dough into 8 equal parts (yes, I know image shows 15, I made extras haha) and shape them into balls. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest for 1 hour in the fridge.

Now let's work on the dough for the body. Add the yeast, sugar, warm (warm, not hot) water into the mixing bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until bubbles start to form.

Next, add in the shortening, egg yolk, sour cream in the in the rest of the dry ingredients, egg, and shortening. Sift in the bread flour and baking powder, followed by salt.

I usually like to poke a hole into the flour mound for the salt as I was told that salt does not mix well with the rising effects of the yeast and should be separated as much as possible.

Using a dough hook, knead for 15 minutes and keep in a warm space to rice for an hour.

When proved, split the dough ball into 8 equal parts. Split each ball into a body, head, 4 legs and a tiny tail.

Now would be a good time to take out the shell-balls from the fridge and let it soften a little.

Use the left over egg white as a glue for the appendages, otherwise you might risk them falling off when baking!

Once formed allow the naked turtles to rest for 10 minutes.

While we wait, we can work on the shells. Flatten each ball out with the palm of your hands between 2 sheets of saran wrap. Use a rolling pin to gently form a circle roughly the same size as the turtle bodies. Use a scraper to score in some lines to create the turtle shell pattern - careful not to cut in the lines too deep otherwise your shells would break open while baking!

Using the remaining egg white, glaze over entire turtle and gently apply shells into place. Cover loosely with saran wrap and let them rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

When ready, bake for 13-15 minutes in an over preheated to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Allow these cuties to cool on a wire rack to prevent moisture from forming below and making their turtle bellies hard.

Give yourself a nice pat on the back, you've made a batch of deliciously cute turtle buns.

Now go show them off to your friends!

Soft and fluffy on the inside too!

This poor little guy met with the ill fate of having his limbs ripped off first and devoured by a ferocious giant.

Hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial, until next time!

C