Hong Kong cream bun

The Hong Kong cream bun (Chinese: 奶油包) is a type of Chinese pastry.^[1] It is a common pastry in Hong Kong and can also be found in most bakeries in Chinatowns abroad. The oval-shaped cream bun is traditionally filled with sweetened buttercream in the center with shredded coconut sprinkled on the outside.^[2]

History

After World War II, Hong Kong saw a boom in local Chinese-owned bakeries that adapted Western baking techniques to Chinese tastes. The cream bun emerged during this period as a soft milk bread roll, split or filled with sweet buttercream or custard-style cream, which was affordable and filling for working families.

References

^ "Cream bun | Traditional Sweet Pastry From Hong Kong | TasteAtlas". www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
^ Sherman, Elisabeth. "The Long, Multi-Continent Journey That Shaped China's Beloved Coconut Bun". Matador Network. Retrieved 21 January 2026.

[1] "Cream bun | Traditional Sweet Pastry From Hong Kong | TasteAtlas". www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

[2] Sherman, Elisabeth. "The Long, Multi-Continent Journey That Shaped China's Beloved Coconut Bun". Matador Network. Retrieved 21 January 2026.

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