Description
Chinese Brown Sugar Bread, or Guo Kui, is a deliciously soft and crispy flatbread filled with rich, gooey Chinese brown sugar. This easy-to-make snack features a tender dough enclosing a sweet, molasses-flavored center, pan-fried to golden perfection. Perfect for a comforting treat or street food-inspired snack, it combines simple ingredients and traditional techniques for a delightful taste experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus more for pan-frying)
Filling
- 1/2 cup Chinese brown sugar (or dark muscovado sugar)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for filling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually pour in the warm water while stirring with chopsticks or a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8–10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Make the Filling: In a separate bowl, combine the Chinese brown sugar with 1 tablespoon of flour. The flour helps prevent the sugar from leaking during cooking and keeps the filling intact inside the bread.
- Shape the Flatbreads: Divide the rested dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten it into a disk shape. Place about 1 tablespoon of the sugar filling mixture into the center of each disk. Pinch the edges carefully to seal the filling inside, then gently flatten each sealed dough ball into a thin circle roughly 4–5 inches in diameter.
- Cook the Flatbreads: Heat a small amount of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry each flatbread for approximately 2–3 minutes per side. Press gently with a spatula while cooking to encourage even browning. The flatbread should become golden brown and crisp, with the sugar filling inside melting into a gooey center.
- Serve: Remove the breads from the skillet and let them cool slightly before serving. Guo Kui is best enjoyed warm to savor the melted sugar filling and crispy exterior.
Notes
- Guo Kui is best enjoyed warm when the sugar filling is gooey and melty.
- Chinese brown sugar (黑糖) provides a rich, molasses-like flavor; if unavailable, dark brown sugar or muscovado sugar can be substituted.
- Press the flatbreads gently during frying to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Resting the dough allows gluten development, resulting in a tender yet elastic texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bread
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
