Salt Bread (Shiopan)
Salt bread, also known as shio pan, is the Japanese bakery roll that took Asia by storm — especially in Korea, where every café now sells it. These fluffy bread rolls are wrapped around a stick of butter, which melts as they bake and fries the bottom for a perfectly crisp, golden crust. With a pillowy interior, a salty-buttery flavor, and endless possibilities for fillings and toppings, this homemade salt bread recipe is bakery-quality right from your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 400 gbread flour
- 120 gcake flour
- 365 gwater
- 26 gsugar
- 10 gsalt
- 30 gnon-fat milk powder
- 40 gcold unsalted butter
straight from fridge
- 7 ginstant dry yeast
- 12x 15 g butter chunks
- pretzel salt
Directions
- 1
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add bread flour, cake flour, sugar, salt, milk powder, yeast, and cold water.
- 2
Mix with a dough hook on low speed until a shaggy, cohesive dough forms.
- 3
Add the unsalted butter (fridge-cold, not softened) and increase to medium speed.
- 4
Knead until the dough is smooth and passes the windowpane test (about 15–25 minutes, depending on your mixer).
- 5
Shape the dough into a smooth ball by rolling it taut.
- 6
Place into a bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size.
- 7
Test readiness by poking the dough with a floured finger — if the hole stays without springing back, it’s ready.
- 8
While the dough rises, cut 1.5 stick of salted butter into 12 even sticks (~15 g each, 1 stick of butter = 8 chunks).
- 9
Degas the dough and divide into 80 g portions.
- 10
Roll each into a smooth ball, cover, and let rest for 15 minutes (starting from the first ball you shaped).
- 11
Roll each ball into a long teardrop shape, keeping the top wider and the bottom narrower.
- 12
Start with the bottom half of the tear drop shape (narrower part.) Use a rolling pin to flatten the bottom half while using the other hand to slightly pull downward. Do the same for the upper half to flatten the wider end into a triangle base about the same width as your butter stick.
- 13
Place a butter stick at the wide end and roll down toward the point, gently tugging for tension.
- 14
Keep the seam side down on the tray.
- 15
Place rolls on non-stick baking tray (no parchment paper) with space between them.
- 16
Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
- 17
Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C).
- 18
Spray rolls lightly with water and sprinkle pretzel salt on top.
- 19
Just before baking, spray each roll generously (about 20 pumps) for added steam.
- 20
Lower oven to 400°F (204°C) and bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the tray halfway if needed for even browning.
- 21
Enjoy hot out of the oven — the bottoms will be crisp and buttery, the insides fluffy and soft.
About this Recipe
Indulge in Bakery-Quality Salt Bread (Shiopan) at Home
Get ready to experience the incredible sensation of Salt Bread, also famously known as Shiopan! This delightful Japanese bakery roll has captivated taste buds across Asia, particularly in Korea, where it's a beloved café staple. Now, you can recreate this irresistible fluffy Japanese salt bread (shio pan) with its signature buttery crisp bottoms right in your own kitchen.
What makes our homemade salt bread recipe truly special? It's all about the magic that happens in the oven. Each pillowy soft bread roll is wrapped around a generous chunk of cold butter. As it bakes, this butter melts and infuses the interior with a rich, savory flavor, while simultaneously frying the bottom of the roll to an unbelievably crispy, golden crust. The result is a perfect harmony of textures – a wonderfully soft, airy crumb with a satisfyingly crunchy base, all elevated by that unique salty-buttery taste.
This easy shio pan recipe brings the authentic experience of Korean salt bread or Japanese salt bread straight to your table. Whether you're craving a comforting breakfast treat, a sophisticated snack, or a unique side for your meal, these butter bread rolls are sure to impress. While they are simply divine on their own, their versatile salty-buttery flavor also allows for endless possibilities if you wish to experiment with sweet or savory fillings. Get ready to enjoy the freshest, most delicious Asian bakery bread you've ever tasted!