Taiwanese Bread

Ingredients

 * 500 gm bread flour
 * 2½ gm ascorbic acid (optional)
 * 175 gm iced water
 * 7½ gm dry instant yeast
 * 5 gm salt
 * 100 gm sugar
 * 50 gm butter
 * 50 gm shortening
 * 30 gm fresh milk
 * 100 gm egg yolks

Directions

 * 1) Using part of the water from the recipe, combine it with the yeast and 50 grams of the sugar. Set aside.
 * 2) Using the dough hook attachment of your machine mix together the bread flour and remaining sugar.
 * 3) Pour in the yeast mixture, continue mixing at slow speed.
 * 4) Add water and milk in a thin stream until mixture looks completely wet. Add more water as necessary.
 * 5) Increase the speed and add in the butter and shortening in pieces until mixture looks completely lubricated.
 * 6) Add egg yolks then the salt.
 * 7) Continue mixing at high speed until dough leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Continue mixing until gluten is developed. Test the dough by getting a small piece and stretching it, it should not break easily and should feel elastic. The dough will be very sticky.
 * 8) Rest the dough in a large greased bowl (turning dough once to grease top). Cover with plastic. Do not disturb for about 30 minutes.
 * 9) At this point you can shape the dough into anything you want.

Filipino ensaimada

 * 1) Divide the dough into two.
 * 2) Divide each half into 50 gram pcs.
 * 3) Roll up each dough tightly into a bun.
 * 4) Place in a greased tray, cover with greased plastic and set aside for 10 minutes.
 * 5) Roll each dough into a rectangle and slather generously with butter.
 * 6) Cover the entire surface with grated cheese (edam works excellently) and roll up on the long side into a thin baton.
 * 7) Coil this baton into a tight cinnamon bun shape and place in round, greased fluted molds or in large muffin tins.
 * 8) Butter the tops and set aside to let it rise until double. This might take between 1 to 2 hours (depending on the temperature of your kitchen - for faster rising, place inside an empty cabinet).
 * 9) Just before baking brush tops gently with egg beaten with a few tablespoons of water.
 * 10) Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for approximately 18 to 25 minutes. Tops should be just golden. Because the dough is so rich the bread will turn brown easily.
 * 11) Remove immediately to cooling racks. Brush with more butter and sprinkle with a little sugar and more grated cheese.