Roti Naik!! (Rising Bun?)

Back in my years at Johore, one of my favourite dish is "roti naik". It is a soft sweet bun with a very fluffy texture. I've been trying a few recipes, tweaking here and there and although I can never claim that this recipe will result to the accurate taste of the original roti naik recipe, it's pretty close in terms of taste and texture.

Disclaimer : the recipe below is my own modification based on here and here. I like my measurement to be in cups rater than all the confusing grams and whatnot. Hee...

3 3/4 cups high protein flour OR bread flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 packet (11gm) of dry active yeast (Mauri-Pan)
3/4 teaspoon bread improver
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg - lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup water (room temperature)
1/2 cup butter

Whisk flour, yeast, bread improver and sugar in a large bowl. Pour beaten egg and vanilla essence and stir with a wooden spoon. Pour condensed milk and water, stir until all the ingredient is incorporated.

Put the butter in microwave for 15 second, or until just enough to soften it. It doesn't have to be melted completrly into liquid form. Add the butter in four stages, kneading after each stage. You may not need to add the last 1/4 of butter if the dough can hold its shape and is smooth.

Now, this kneading step is very important. I am no expert baker, nor do I have any knowledge on how to knead correctly. So, what I did was turn on the TV, watch whatever is airing, and knead until three commercials interval (approximately half an hour). Oh, feel free to add another 1/4 - 1/2 cup of flour if the dough is too sticky. (I wouldn't recommend it though, may harden your bun)

When you have done with the kneading, form the dough into a ball, cover with a damp cloth and let it rise until double in size (approximately 45 minutes)

In the mean time, grease a pan generously with butter. After 45 minutes, take the dough out and punch the big ball like you would punch your ex-boyfriend. Keep punching to let all your anger the air out.

Divide into small balls, arrange in the greased pan and cover with damp cloth and let it rise for another hour or so. Bake in oven at 190 degree celcius for 15 to 20 minutes.
As soon as the hot bun pops out of the oven, brush the top with the extra butter.

I baked this yesterday, after work and by 10pm, everybody is enjoying the fluffy treat as supper. Will definitely make them again. And again.

P/S : I will put more picture of the process when I make these bun again.