Roti Kukus (Indonesian Sweet steamed bread)
Roti Kukus is a colorful and cute Indonesian sweet steamed bread. This recipe is vegan, and unlike most recipes doesn’t rely on artificial coloring or (shudder) store bought crappy soda to be used in the batter. The result is more flavorful, moister, and easier to make from scratch with ingredients that are easy to keep in your pantry.
Servings: 12
Calories: 230kcal
Cost: $4.50
Equipment
- Steaming trays or molds
- Steamer or large pot with a steaming setup
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup canola oil vegetable oil, or sunflower oil
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened plant-based milk
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract optional
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa
- 1 ½ teaspoons pandan extract
Instructions
- Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, forming a well in the center.
- Add to the center of the dry ingredients sugar, plant-based milk, oil, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, and coconut extract (if desired), and whisk together to form a smooth thick batter.
- Divide the batter into three separate bowls. Mix the cocoa into one portion, the pandan extract into one portion, and leave the last portion plain.
- Lightly oil your baking molds with neutral-tasting oil, use cupcake wrappers, or line your steaming trays or molds with parchment paper.
- Pour the dark-colored batter into the bottom, the plain batter in the middle, and the pandan-colored batter on top in each tray or mold. Optionally sprinkle the tops with a light dusting of vanilla sugar or vegan caster sugar.
- With your steamer over medium heat (don't let the water boil fully), steam the bolu kukus for 20-25 minutes until the centers have risen. It's totally ok, and some people like it even more when the kukus naturally split open. Allow them to cool for ten minutes, slice, and enjoy your layered Roti Kukus!
Notes
👨🍳 Batter Perfection: Whisk-sift dry ingredients for a lump-free batter, ensuring ideal consistency.
🍰 Layering Art: Achieve stunning layers - dark cocoa at the base, plain in the middle, and pandan on top.
🧖♀️Steam on medium: Don't steam over too high heat when you bring the water to a boil. Instead, use gentle steam.
💨 Bamboo Brilliance: Bamboo steamers prevent soggy outcomes because they are a little porous and prevent water buildup. Use a kitchen towel stretched across the top of your steamer underneath the lid if you have a steamer with a metal glass lid.
🍮Mold Magic: Prepare your molds so that it’s easier to remove the steamed cakes - grease, line with parchment paper, or use cupcake wrappers for easy Roti Kukus removal.
Nutrition
Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg