Kitchen Recipe
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Sri Lankan Tea Bun (Tea Banis)
The most classic, simple, and slightly sweet bakery bun, often studded with a few raisins and baked to a deep golden brown.
- Prep
- 90 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 110 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 8 servings
- bread flour
- yeast
- sugar
- butter
- milk
- raisins (sultanas)
- egg (for wash)
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking tray
Instructions
- 1
Make Dough
Knead flour, yeast, sugar, milk, and butter. Add a handful of raisins during the final kneading. Proof until doubled.
- 2
Shape
Divide into 8 round buns. Place on a baking tray closely together so they touch slightly when they rise (pull-apart style). Proof for 30 mins.
- 3
Egg Wash
Brush generously with egg wash or milk for a shiny, dark crust.
- 4
Bake
Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes until deeply golden brown.
Cooking Tips
- Tea buns are traditionally less sweet than cakes, designed to be eaten with sweet tea.
- Placing them close together on the tray keeps the sides soft while the top gets crusty.
Variations
- Butter Banis: Slice horizontally and slather with salted butter before eating.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- The undisputed king of the Sri Lankan tea time break.
Nutrition Estimate
210 calories · 6g protein · 36g carbs · 5g fat · 1g fiber per serving
