First of all, I need to warn you, despite how cute this bread may be, behind that innocent panda face lies hours of hard work, a lot of energy spent, one almost going cross-eyed from face shaping and countless failed attempts. So why do it? There is no other reason except for the quest of the Kawaii. And nothing quite beats that moment of satisfaction (when after the third failed attempt), you cut the bread in half and you see a distinguishable panda face staring back at you.

Originally taken from a Japanese recipe from Taro Taro at www.cookpad.com (who else could come up with such a creation), there have been various translated versions. The green tea adds a refreshing but slightly bitter taste, while cocoa gives a thick chocolaty taste.

Recipe

For the dough

3 cups of all purpose flour

3 tbsp of sugar

1 cup of milk together with 1 egg yolk

¾ tbsp of salt

1 ½ tablespoon of butter

2 ½ tsp dry yeast

For the colouring of the Panda face

1 tbsp green tea powder mixed with 2 tsp hot water

3 ½ tsp of Cocoa powder mixed with 1 ½ tsp of hot water

Method

Warm the milk and egg mixture by placing it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside.

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, butter and yeast together in a bowl. Then add the milk and egg mixture.

Mix together for about ten minutes. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

Divide the dough into three portions – two about equal in size to each other, while the third should be sized about 1/3 of the other two. (Refer to image.)

Place one of the larger pieces in a bowl and add in the green tea. Mix together till the green is evenly spread out.

Cover the green dough with cling wrap and set aside.

Take the smallest piece of dough and mix in the cocoa powder.

Cover the brown dough with cling wrap and set aside. Do this for the un-coloured (white) dough as well. Leave the dough pieces for about an hour (in a un-air-conditioned, covered surrounding) till they double in size.

Now it’s time to craft the panda face. Take the white dough and separate into three pieces – two about equal in size to each other, while the third should be sized about 1/3 of the other two (as you did earlier).

Take the brown dough piece and separate into four equal pieces.

Use one of the larger white pieces to form the face. Use two quarters of brown dough to form the eyes.

Place the smallest white dough piece in the middle of the two brown “eyes”, to keep them in place.

Flatten the other big white dough piece and wrap it around tightly.

As for the other two brown dough pieces, roll them into “ears” and place them on top.

Divide the green dough into two – the bigger piece is about 4 times the size of the smaller piece.

Place the smaller green part in the middle of the ears. Flatten the bigger green part and wrap it tightly around your creation.

Place the whole piece into a lightly greased loaf pan, cover and let rise until doubled, for around 40 minutes.

Preheat the oven for half an hour at 200 degrees in the meantime. Once the dough is doubled, place it in the oven for 30 minutes.