The Japanese are the masters of creating viral-worthy food out of simple ingredients. The viral fried cream sando is exactly that. This Tokyo-famous dessert features fluffy Japanese milk bread (Shokupan) that’s fried till golden and crispy, then split into small pockets and filled with light, airy vanilla whipped cream. The concept is incredibly simple, but every bite feels unbelievably luxurious. In this recipe, I’m going to show you how to recreate this viral sensation at home with just five simple ingredients!
What is the Viral Japanese Cream-filled Fried Bread Sando
The viral Japanese deep-fried sandwich concept came from a humble little spot named Age.3 (pronounced “ah-geh san”) in Tokyo. They have completely taken off on social media with their extraordinary deep-fried bread pockets that are filled with cream, creme brulee, matcha cream, or chocolate cream & strawberries, etc. Sweet options aside, they also do savoury fillings such as Japanese egg salad. It’s definitely a foodie bucket list spot in Tokyo!
What is Japanese Milk Bread
Japanese Milk Bread, a.k.a. Shokupan, is known for its soft, pillowy, almost cake-like texture, and a milky, sweeter flavour than regular bread. Milk Bread is made using the Tangzhong method, whisking together milk and bread flour to create a smooth paste before adding it to the dough. This technique changes the structure of the starches in the flour, allowing them to absorb more moisture than they normally would during standard bread-making. This results in moister, softer crumbs and a fluffier texture.
Shokupan is perfect for this viral fried cream sando recipe because it absorbs less oil than other drier breads and retains more moisture, keeping the bread light and fluffy while its exterior is fried till crispy. I make my own following Kristina Cho’s recipe from her Mooncakes & Milk Bread cookbook. Or it should be readily available at Asian supermarkets and bakeries.
Can You Make Fried Cream Sando Without Shokupan?
Yes, you totally can, but different breads would yield different textures. You may substitute Shokupan with brioche or regular white sandwich bread. However, brioche is richer and heavier to taste, and regular white sandwich bread could get rather greasy when fried.
How to Make the Viral Cream Fried Sando at Home
Ingredients You Need
- Japanese Milk Bread (Shokupan) – cut into thick slices
- Vegetable Oil – for frying the bread. Sunflower oil, peanut oil, and canola oil are good alternatives.
- Double Cream
- Sugar – ideally icing sugar. If not, white granulated sugar will do.
- Vanilla Extract
Recipe Notes & Tips
- If you don’t have Shokupan, you can substitute it with brioche or white sandwich bread. However, brioche is richer and denser to taste, and white sandwich bread could turn out greasy.
- Icing sugar helps to stabilise the whipped cream. If you don’t have icing sugar on hand, you can use regular white granulated sugar.
- Want to make your fried cream sando more aesthetic? Use a piping bag to pipe the cream into the fried bread pockets.
- Lastly, why not jazz up the fried cream sando to your liking? You can top it with some sliced fruit (strawberries are always a popular pick), dust it with some cocoa powder or matcha powder, or even make a creme brulee topping by adding a layer of custard on top and sprinkling sugar for torching.
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Viral Japanese Deep-Fried Cream Sando Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 slices Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread)
- ½ cup Double Cream
- 1 tbsp White Sugar or Icing Sugar
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- Vegetable Oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan. Fried Shokupan slices for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Set aside to drain on a wire rack.2 slices Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread), Vegetable Oil
- In the meantime, whisk together double cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form.½ cup Double Cream, 1 tbsp White Sugar or Icing Sugar, ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- Slice the fried bread diagonally into two triangles. Then slit a pocket out of each triangle.
- Using a spoon or piping bag, fill each bread pocket generously with whipped cream. Serve immediately.
Notes
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