Melonpan

Melonpan is a sweet Japanese bread with a crispy cookie crust and a soft, fluffy interior.

Ingredients - Serves 8

In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast.
Add the softened butter, milk, egg, vanilla extract, and melon flavoring to the bowl.
Mix everything together until a dough forms.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Place the dough back into the mixing bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and shape each portion into a round ball.
Place the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Take a small portion of cookie dough and flatten it into a disc shape.
Place the cookie dough disc on top of each dough ball, pressing it gently to adhere.
Using a knife, make crisscross patterns on the cookie dough to resemble a melon.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cookie crust is crispy.
Remove from the oven and let the melonpan cool on a wire rack before serving.