Celebrate spring by baking charming flower‑shaped breads: sweet custard-filled and savory samosa-style. Soft, tasty and fun!

🌸 Welcome Spring with Flower‑Shaped Sweet Custard & Savory Samosa Breads

As the days grow longer and blooms begin to appear, it's the perfect moment to invite spring into your kitchen. Nothing says “spring celebration” quite like flower-shaped bread—delicate, cheerful, and oh-so-fun to eat. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to create two delightful versions: a sweet custard-filled flower bread and a savory samosa-style flower bread. They’re perfect for breakfasts, gatherings, or just a joyful snack.

📝 Ingredients (Makes 8 flower-shaped buns)

Shared Dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of cake flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 and 1/2 tsp yeast
• 1 cup warm warm milk
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted or olive oil (for healthier version)

Sweet Custard Filling:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)
• 2 smashed strawberries (optional)

Savory Samosa Filling (for the bread filling, only need 1/4 of it):

• 1 medium potatoes (150g)
• 150g ground meat (such as pork, chicken and etc.)
• 1/4 cup peas, corns and finely diced carrots (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 tbsp oil (to cook ground meat)
• 1/2 tbsp ghee or vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 ginger paste or minced
• 1/8 tsp asofoetida or 1/4 tsp garlic paste/minced
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp minced cilantro leaves

Spices for Samosoa filling

1/4 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/4 fennel powder

1/4 tsp chilli powder (optional, amount flexible to your liking)

🔧 Essential Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
• Small saucepan (for custard)
• Pastry brush
• Parchment rounds or liners

👩‍🍳 Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough

1. In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit until foamy (about 5 to 10 minutes).
2. Mix in flour, salt, and melted butter. Knead until a smooth, elastic dough forms
3. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled (~30 minutes to 1 hour depends on environment such as temperature, moisture and etc.).

2. Make the Fillings

Custard: Whisk milk, sugar, egg, cornstarch and etc. in a saucepan, heat up on medium heat, stir constantly, then add shredded coconut and smashed strawberries, cook until thick enough to form solid shapes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and cool.

Samosa Filling:

1. peel potatoes
2. boil to cook through until fork can easily poke through
3. drain water and smash potatoes
4. heat up 1/2 tbsp oil in high heat in pan
5. add groud meat and cook through, then remove from pan
6. heat of 1/2 tbsp ghee/oil in pan over medium heat
7. add cumin seeds and cook 30 seconds
8. add ginger paste, add garlic paste or mince if you do not have asofoetida and cook 10 seconds or till fragrant
9. add asofoetida and spices, cook until fragrant (do not over cook, about 10 seconds)
10. add mashed potato, ground meat and vegetable, add salt and pepper and cook one minute
11. add cilantro and cook 10 seconds
12. turn off heat, and move from pan to a bowl

3. Shape & Fill Flower Buns

1. mix ingredients and knead the dough
2. rest covered for 1st rise (30-60 minutes, until size doubled)
3. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
4. Punch down the dough to get air out and divide into 16 portions.
5. Flatten each into a circle on a floured surface.
6. Place custard or samosa filling in the center of each circle, pull up dough to wrap around filling and form a round shape.
7. flatten each round dough and shape each to a flower shape (shown in video)
8. Place on a lined baking sheet. Brush with milk or egg wash for shine.
9. Let rise for 60 minutes.
10. Bake for 30 minutes until golden and puffed.

💡 Cooking Tips & Substitutions

• Use half-and-half for a richer custard or plant-based milk for dairy-free versions.
• Swap the samosa filling for tofu or paneer and spices.
• Make ahead by freezing shaped buns before baking—just increase bake time slightly.
• Swap sugar for honey or maple syrup in the dough for natural sweetness.

♻️ Storage & Reheating

• Store leftover buns in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.
• No need to reheat, room temperature is good
• For longer storage, freeze once cooled. Defrost and bring to room temperature to serve.

❓ FAQs

Can I use different fillings? Yes! Nutella, fruit jam, or savory cheese and herbs all work beautifully.

Can I make mini flower buns? Sure—just divide the dough into smaller portions and reduce baking time accordingly.

🌷Wrap-Up

These flower-shaped breads are simple yet stunning—a perfect way to celebrate spring's arrival and brighten your baking table. Whether sweet or savory, they’re a delightful treat that brings beauty and warmth to any meal. Happy spring baking!