Chocolate spread for great chocolate buns

I became a bit obsessed trying to find the right chocolate spread to fill chocolate buns. Of course it had to taste good, but it also needed to work when baked. I discovered a wonderful spread created by Elizabeth Lau aptly named Lick the Knife Clean Chocolate Spread. She’s kindly given me permission to share this with you with my slight adaptations.

The spread is easy to make and keeps for ages and ages in the fridge. It can be used for all sorts of purposes. I particularly like it as it is nut free, not too sweet and is easy to use. They key is using good chocolate. You might not usually choose 70% chocolate, but it makes all the difference. I am currently using Callebaut Belgium Callets (like small buttons), but you can use a bar of chocolate equally well. Unlike some fillings it doesn’t disappear when you bake it.

To make this recipe vegan, check out dairy free chocolate and use vegan spread such as Flora Plant Butter.

What makes a good chocolate bun? The dough needs to be light and moist, the filling generous but not too generous that it leaks everywhere. I’ve now made hundreds of these and the feedback is always great.

Cooling chocolate buns.

Make the Chocolate Spread

You’ll need about 1/3 of the quantity for the chocolate bun recipe. The chocolate spread keeps extremely well in the fridge. No longer do you need to use Nutella. This is a far superior filling!

Chocolate Spread

Chocolate Spread Recipe

Danielle Ellis
You will have more chocolate spread than you need to fill a batch of chocolate buns, but it keeps for weeks in the fridge. It's important to use really good dark chocolate for the rich flavour. Just think of all the ways you can use it!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Afternoon Tea
Cuisine American, British
Servings 12

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Spread Filling

  • 60 ml water
  • 100 gr caster sugar
  • 20 gr cocoa powder unsweetened
  • 5 ml vanilla extract
  • 110 gr 70% dark chocolate either buttons or a tablet broken into pieces
  • 130 gr butter cubed salted or unsalted
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions
 

Make the chocolate spread

  • In a saucepan, melt the water, sugar, cocoa and salt until the mixture lightly bubbles
  • Remove from the heat and add the butter and chocolate. Stir until completely melted. Add the vanilla extract.
  • Pour into a container with a lid. When cool put into fridge. It will keep for weeks. 
    Before using in baking remove from the fridge 30 minutes before you need to use it.

Notes

This recipe is adapted from Lick the Knife Clean Chocolate Spread Recipe with kind permission of Elizabeth Lau. 
Tried this recipe?Mention @Breadbakerdani or tag #SevernBitesBreadmaking!

Make the Chocolate Buns

Chocolate Buns Proving
Chocolate Buns Proving

These delicious buns are easy to make, you’ll just need a little time. Fill them with the chocolate spread – just remember to take the spread out of the fridge before spreading.

Chocolate Buns

Luscious Chocolate Bun Recipe

Danielle Ellis
Chocolate buns that are light and have just that right amount of sweetness. Using the Tangzhong method results in a lovely moist dough that keeps well.
Prove the dough overnight if you can. It will rise well in fridge and be easier to manipulate when cold.
You will need a third to a half of the chocolate spread recipe to fill these buns.
Checking the temperature of the dough will make all the difference to a good result.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Proving 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Course Afternoon Tea, Bread
Cuisine American, British
Servings 14 buns

Equipment

  • Stand mixer
  • Rolling pin
  • Pastry Brush
  • Plastic box with lid
  • Palette knife
  • Dough scraper
  • Digital scales
  • Small saucepan

Ingredients
  

For the Tangzhong

  • 25 grams butter
  • 25 grams flour
  • 50 millilitres milk

For the dough

  • 500 grams Type OO Flour or bread flour
  • 7 grams dried instant yeast or 10 gr fresh yeast
  • 2 eggs The second egg is for egg wash
  • 250 millilitres water
  • 25 grams butter
  • 8 grams salt
  • 50 grams sugar

Instructions
 

Tangzhong

  • Make the Tangzhong. Weigh out the ingredients in a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour and mix, then add the milk. Cook for a few minutes. This is similar to making a roux for a sauce. The mixture will be very thick. . Set aside and allow to cool down. As it cools it softens and becomes pliable
    Tangzhong

Make the dough

  • Weigh out the ingredients. In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, egg and 250 ml water.
  • Mix with the dough hook until all the flour incorporated. It will be very stiff. Add the Tangzhong in small lumps. Then add the butter in small pieces.
  • Mix until the mixture reaches between 24 and 26°C. The time this will take will depend on how cold the ingredients were to start with. The dough will come away from the sides of the bowl and will feel very stretchy.
  • Cover or place in a plastic box with a cover and allow to rise for 1.5 hours. Alternatively, put the dough in the fridge to prove for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.
  • When shaped you will need to leave the buns for about an hour so preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F) at least 1/2 hour before you need to bake.

Roll, fill and cut

  • Remove the spread from the fridge 1/2 hour before you need to use it.
  • Once your dough has proved either in the fridge or overnight, roll it out to a rectangle about 1/2 cm thick. If you are making the dough without it resting in the fridge, chilling it for 15 minutes will make it easier to work with
  • Using a palette knife spread the chocolate spread over the dough right to the edges. Spread evenly but not too thickly. It is tempting to add too much, just remember you will be rolling it up.
  • Roll up tightly from the longest side to form a long roll.
  • Cut into 80 gr pieces. Try to make sure they are of even size to ensure they bake evenly. Tuck the end of each roll underneath to stop it unravelling when baking.
  • You’ll now place the buns on your baking tray a thumb width apart. Brush with beaten egg.
  • Allow to prove for at least an hour at room temperature. You’ll see that the buns will have grown and will be almost touching.

Bake

  • Brush with beaten egg a second time. Bake for 15 minutes then check for colour, they should be a light golden brown. Bake longer if necessary.
Tried this recipe?Mention @Breadbakerdani or tag #SevernBitesBreadmaking!

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2 thoughts on “Chocolate spread for great chocolate buns”

  1. My sincere apologies. I originally wrote this as one recipe, then split it and left some of the ingredient behind. It should have sugar and more salt. Now amended. Glad you liked the spread.

  2. 2 stars
    I would give the chocolate spread 5 stars and the bread dough 1 star. I did wonder about the small amount of salt and no sugar in the dough recipe, should have gone with my instinct and added 5g of salt and a maybe 15g of sugar. The dough is extremely bland although a good texture, but I was making them to share with family which I will not be doing. They will go in the freezer and we will eventually eat them ourselves. First time I have used a tangzhong, interesting.

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