Cute Animal Shaped Steam Buns

This time i got few leftover sweet potatoes in my fridge. So i decided to make a group of steam buns without filling, which sometime we call it Man-tou (馒头) for my boy. Mmmm, how to attaract him to love the buns? Cute animals of course!! Turn those buns into cuties animals like porcupine, rabbits, kids gonna love them so much...Well, a mom always a genius to her child right? haha :P

Ingredients

• 60g of sweet potato puree   60 克蕃薯泥
• 250g of all-purpose  flour    250 克普通面粉/中筋面粉
• 1/2 table spoon of baking powder    1/2 汤匙发粉
• 75 g of custard sugar    75 克砂糖
• 1/4 tea spoon of salt    1/4 茶匙盐
• 1/4 tea spoon of instant yeast    1/4 茶匙速溶酵母
• 60ml of warm water    60 毫升温水
• 1.5 table spoon of shortening    1.5 汤匙白油
• Black sesame    黑芝麻 **i used chocolate chips since i don have the black sesame , but they all turn to 'tears' when melting! Another genius idea!

 Steps 

1. Put the sweet potato puree, sifted all-purpose flour and baking powder, sugar, salt, yeast, shortening, warm water into a mixing bowl and knead into a rough dough by hand.    把蕃薯泥、筛过普通面粉和发粉、糖、盐、酵母、白油、水全都倒入盘用手揉成一团。
2. Knead the dough with the mixer until it turns to even and smooth texture.     用搅拌机揉面团至均匀光滑。
3. Roll the dough into a ball. Let it sit in a warm spot and goes for first proofing, until it grows 2 times bigger (approximate 60 minutes).     把面团搓成球状，置在温暖处发酵胀大至两倍大 (约60分钟)。
4. Knead the dough to remove the trapped air. Roll the dough into a ball again.     把面团取出排气，搓成球状。
5. Cut the ball into 16 equal parts and roll into smaller balls.    把面团分16份，在滚成16个小球状。
6. Take a ball and shape it a tear drop. Use a scissor cut the body to form the spikes. Put the 2 black sesame at narrow front side as the eyes (photo 7). There you have a cute porcupine.    将一份小球捏成水滴状。用剪刀在身体剪出刺箭，身体前端狭窄处塞两颗黑芝麻当眼睛(图7)。这就是可爱的箭猪。
7. Take a ball and shape it a tear drop. Use a scissor cut a pair of ears and a round tail. Put the 2 black sesame at narrow front side as the eyes (photo 7). And here you have a cute rabbit.    将一份小球捏成水滴状。用剪刀剪出一对耳朵和一个圆尾巴，身体前端狭窄处塞两颗黑芝麻当眼睛(图7)。这就是可爱的兔子了。
8. Place the animal buns in a warm spot and go for second proofing (approximate 45-60 minutes).    弄好的可爱动物包包置在温暖处发酵(约45-60分钟)。
9. Bring the water in steamer to boil. Put in the buns and steam for 10 minutes. Off the heat and with the lid on for another 10 minutes. The steam buns are good to eat now.    煮滚蒸笼的水，再放入可爱动物包包蒸10分钟。熄火继续焖10分钟即可。