Have I ever told you what wonderful people my readers are? I’m sure I have on many occasions. The best thing about having wonderful readers is when they tell me about very cool things to make. Case in point is reader Carol who left me this comment stating simply: “Oh go on … make us Panda Bread!” and linked me to a blog who had indeed made a gorgeous Panda bread based on a Japanese blogger’s brilliant idea. My heart skipped a beat with excitement when I saw it and I knew I had to make it. There was only one thing stopping me. It was the 20 boxes of things that I was in the middle of moving.
Luckily things such as fate intervened and I hadn’t yet packed some of the final boxes. The ones that were left outstanding were a packet of green tea and Valrhona cocoa powder that I bought from our Tokyo trip. So I stashed these two packets in my already bulging handbag along with a host of other necessities that I didn’t want lost in the boxes like drawings that my Mother in Law did for me, anti Swine Flu hand sanitiser, Crabtree & Evelyn Earl Grey Teabags, a camera battery charger along with my normal ramshackle mix of things.
When we had finally settled in, I unloaded the Kitchenaid onto the counter at my parent’s house which is where we are staying while renovating our kitchen and bathroom. My mother had never used one before and I warned her not to pick it up or move it as it was heavy. “You mean this stays here all the time?” she said somewhat curious and perhaps a little wary of this new benchtop intruder.
As for my styling, I admit I’m the least clucky person I know except for perhaps my friend Gina. However I couldn’t resist buying this Tiffany & Co. child’s cup and saucer for an imaginary child. My imaginary child wouldn’t break it, be well behaved, eat adventurously, be kind to strangers and nice to animals and love to eat Panda Bread. Although if this imaginary child were to materialise I could only guarantee the last point.
So tell me Dear Readers, what is your imaginary child like?
Panda Bread
Ingredients: Makes approximately 600g/21ozs loaf (206mm x 108mm x100mm high)
- 270g/9.5ozs all purpose flour
- 30g/1oz cornflour
- 30g/1oz sugar
- Milk + 1 egg yolk = 21 0g/7.4ozs
- 4.5g/0.18ozs salt
- 20g/0.7 ozs unsalted butter (I used 20g)
- 4g/0.14ozs yeast
- 8g/0.28ozs green tea powder dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling hot water
- 8g/0.28ozs cocoa powder dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water
Method:
1. Heat up milk and yolk to temperature of 38℃/100F. (I beat the yolk lightly with milk and send it to the microwave on High for 30 seconds).
2. Place flours, salt, yeast, sugar in an electric mixer fitted with a Dough Hook and set on low setting to combine. Then add milk and egg mixture and softened butter and knead on low setting for 5-6 minutes until elastic.
Green Tea Powder
3. Divide dough (about 560g or just over 1 pound) into 3 parts: 75g/2.64ozs for the chocolate, 210g/7.4ozs plain and the rest of the dough which is less than 280g/9.8ozs for the green tea.
Green Tea Paste (left) and Chocolate Paste (right)
4. Add chocolate to the 75g/2.64ozs dough and knead till the colour is even. Add green tea mixture to the 280g/9.8ozs dough and knead till colour is even. If you do these manually, make sure that your hands and bench space where you need are cleaned between kneading to avoid transferring the colours.
Dough wrapped up before proofing
5. Prove all 3 pieces of doughs on separate greased plates covered loosely with oiled cling wrap for 30 – 40 minutes.
6. Punch air out of dough and prove for another 20 – 30 minutes.
7. Use 90g/3ozs plain dough for the face and 2 pieces of 27g/1oz chocolate dough for the eyes.
8. Fill the hollow of the eyes with 30g/1oz plain dough.
9. Roll remaining plain dough over the patterned dough.
10. Divide the remaining chocolate dough into 2 pieces (17.5g each/0.61ozs) for the ears.
11. Use 70g/2.47ozs of the green tea dough to fill up the hollow between the ears.
12. Wrap the rest of the green tea dough all around the patterned dough.
13. Place dough into a well-greased loaf pan and cover it with a lid and prove for 50 – 60 minutes in an enclosed are. As it’s cold here and we’re in the middle of Winter, I set the pan in a larger container filled with warm water and refreshed the water with hot water 3-4 times to make sure that it rose.
14. Bake at 200℃/400F for 25 – 30 minutes.
Thanks to Do What I like for translating Taro’s recipe and Taro for coming up with such a cute idea!
Buying tips: Green tea powder can be found at Asian grocery stores or Japanese supermarkets (I bought mine in Tokyo).
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94 Comments | Add your own
This bread is truly crazy! I love Japanese sweets and baking. They have such a unique twist. Lovely. Question is, how does it taste?
OMG, so cute!
I just saw this bread recently. You did a great job with it; it’s so cute!
WOW!!!
My imaginary child is still not potty trained.
Wow, that looks like fun. But it also seems like a bit of hard work. Is it as hard as it looks?
that looks so pretty! love the pattern!
OMG! I saw this picture in FB.. & my kids came running;-) Really really cute, & now your step by step really unfolds the mystery to how the cute miracle happened.
That is just the cutest thing I have ever seen!! Almost too cute to eat. Did it taste like flavoured bread or more like cake?
Oooohhh, this is so cute and so clever. My perfect child would be perfectly behaved too, but I know that in reality, it ain’t gonna happen, so I’d have to say a happy and healthy one.
Awww ernie!!! And I love how you constructed the “panda” in the bread!
*squeals* that is the cutest bread EVER! I want to make it now! And it’s green tea flavoured, my favourite! That cup and saucer set are adorable, I wouldn’t be able to resist buying it either.
I already have a kid, so don’t need to imagine it… but I am sure he would love that panda bread… he doesn’t like any spreads on his bread, so this is a good way to mix up his meals…
I must say when the first pic popped up, I tilted my head to the side and did a “NAW”
ROFL! I <3 it!
you amaze us everytime!!
x
My goodness! Super super cute. You are genius ;D
These are so cute! You’ve inspired me. I may attempt these on the weekend. BTW where can I get green tea powder from? Then I can also make green tea macarons! (I’m going through a bit of a baking frenzy)
One other question… Does anyone know if there is a service that delivers baking ingredients/equipment to the door? I know there is in the US.
delightful! And very clever too. I always wondered how different colored breads where made. When I saw the title panda bread I thought it was going to be pandan. Very interesting with the green tea.
As soon as I saw that first photo, I just knew that something as cute as this had to have it’s origins in Japan! You put me to shame, NQN – I have 3 very real kids, but do I make them home-made panda bread?! xxx
That is superdooper-cute!
Just got my KA and let me tell you – it ain’t leaving the bench!!
My imaginary child/ren wouldn’t challenge me every other time I asked them to do something (gotta love having 2×3.5 year olds and 1x5yo!)
Oh Lorraine, up until becoming one of your readers, I always thought that I was slightly (make that completely )obsessed with all things pertaining to food but you surpass me by miles !! LOL.
I now know, why everything you make always looks ( and obviously tastes ) great, it’s because you give it 120%. I can just imagine you in your kitchen with the finished project, a happy and content little soul.
OMG! SO CUTE
Aww… It’s just adorable! And you make it look so easy! I’m pretty clucky, I must admit 
Hehe.
Kawaii! I want to try it out too.
Sooo cute and I love the cup and saucer. Unlike my real child, my imaginary child would sleep through the night! Thankfully he is becoming a little foodie, which I adore.
Are you brilliant or insane Lorraine, or both! This is just fantastic bread. Can imagine why Carol sent you the link. You did beautifully here, & under the packing circumstances, splendid!I hate to disappoint you but the imginary child exists only in imagination! Preserve those pictures & the cup set…reality might not ensure their existence! Fun post…I ♥ Elmo!! xo
I recently found this recipe and am itching to try my hand at it! Excellent work
I don’t have Ernie to help me, but I’ll see if I can rope in my teddy Champ (it’s not like he’s too busy to do it, just lounging around in my room all day)
My imaginary child woudln’t exist…because I don’t want a kid! sorry! >.<
And AAAH!!! This is PERFECT! you are SO talented! Mine would probably turn out into a deformed beast.xp
Looks very interesting. I couldn’t bear to be parted with my KA either, I have it with me at my parent’s place!
This is about one of the most cutest ideas I have ever seen! I really want to try one, too bad I am probably too lazy to get around to it!
My real child is actually more lovable than any imaginary child could be. Although perhaps my imaginary child would be a wee bit better at cracking eggs so my gnocchi wouldn’t have surprise gritty bits of shell in them… She is an absolute foodie though, will try anything and only baulks at olives.
Panda bread is awesome – think it might have to be our weekend baking challenge! Did the Cook and the Chef deconstructed apple pie last weekend and it was a real hit – substituted apple and rhubarb simmered with star anise for the apple and cinnamon of the recipe. mmmmmm
OMG TOO CUTE! you’re a genius. hahaha. so gonna try these!!! THANK YOU!
Yes! I got this link last week too. It is on my list of things to do. Yours looks delish!
Wow! how cute is this?
Good job! I also am in the midst of packing for a move to my sister’s place while we search for our own place…haha…I know exactly what you’re going through…and last night I wanted to make dinner but forgot that I had packed my casserole dish so had to settle for a simple stirfry instead 
Very pretty! A great idea!
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow, what a cute looking bread! And thanks for the step by step instructions
WOW!!!!
)))))
Hey Lorraine ~ I love your Panda Bread! Its sooo cute! I admire your patience to make these – as I am sure mine would have looked nothing like Pandas but more like the guy from the band ‘KISS’ and my imaginary kid running away crying…
x
My imaginary kid would totally dig your cute panda bread though and the Tiffany & Co cup…
And I think I’m in that ‘clucky’ stage now where I find myself wanting to buy children’s clothes and things for children I do not have yet… they are all just too cute the things they have for kids now!
How quirky and cute! What a cool idea. Of course it had to be Japanese
hi nqn. you mentioned where to get pork tenderloin, but i don’t see where it comes to use in the recipe…
Oh, but it’s so cute! It’d be a shame to eat it, but my imaginary child says “OM NOM NOM NOM NOM” like Cookie Monster. (Another Sesame Street reference to go with Ernie up there!
)
Ooooh I didn’t think you’d actually MAKE PANDA BREAD! But you did, you did! Thanks so very much for taking it on, I knew that the artist in you would craft a lovely panda. I don’t know about my imaginary child, but my inner child is dancing with delight. Thanks Lorraine!
That panda bread is too cute! I don’t know if I could bear to eat it hehe
thanks for making it look so easy! My imaginary child is planning on making it for my real god-kiddies!
That is the best thing ever – I have to make some for my godson who is panda obsessed.
i am so making this panda bread! it’s so cute!! you’ve done a great job!
Oohh so cute! Love the Tiffany & Co. cup and saucer
Very nice
Did want to share one thing lost in translation – “panda” as on that site is an amusing pun. “Pan” is the Japanese word for bread (or at least borrowed from Portugese, I believe), and “da” is kinda like an exclamation or emphasis – so the title of the post on the Cookpad site is literally “Ah, Bread!”, and the pun is enforced by the different writing style (hiragana vs katakana) used for the “da”.
Just thought I’d share
CUTE! G
I saw the original Japanese post and was gonna make it this weekend but didn’t have time.
Hehe… I love the way it looks… I want to make a koala version
Hee hee soo cool! GOod work keeping the panda shape! Some others didn’t quite make it…
Oh sorry for dbling but I have that same Ernie!! *hi-5*!
That bread is just gorgeous! Great job. I like your characteristics of the ideal child too.
How very cute!! I don’t think I could bring myself to eat it, I’d just sit and gaze upon its beauty!
Katie xox
So fun and cute bread!
May your imaginary child and your new home bring joy, health, happiness and inspiration to you and your husband!
Whoa, you moved then made bread! And super cute bread at that..you are amazing
Don’t need imaginary kids, got two very real ones and I can’t imagine things any different
not surprisingly, you did a masterful job with this. it’s an adorable idea and i continue to be impressed by your mad skills!
Awww…how cute
Adorable idea and love how it turned out. How does the chocolate and green tea taste together? No thoughts of an imaginary child here . . . but, I know that my very adorable 5-year old nephew would love this!
I have been looking for a recipe for some kind of gren tea bread,since I have a lot of Matcha on my hands – and wow, this IS IT! I’m not sure I’d be able to execute it as beautifully as you did, but I love the cocoa with the green tea for the panda, so it’s my next project after some umm..DB experimentation (LOVE what you and Angela chose). Thank you for posting this!
Ahhhhh KAWAII~~~~~~~!!
I looove grean tea (after all I’m Japanese LOL) but haven’t really used for anything else but drinking as tea, mixed with milk, adding it to pancake batter.
Funny, a good friend of mine actually works for CookPad as a developer in Japan LOL
Sorry for my double post. But I’ve just remembered something I was trying to.
TarePanda!
http://images.google.com/images?q=tare%20panda
I love your blog ! looks so delicious will try this weekend:)
Thanks for sharing your recipe:)
Welcome~~~
http://foodcreate.com
and if you can visit me I can visit you
Have a great Day ~~~
This bread is so adorable, I love the use of green tea in it…very clever! My imaginary child eats all her vegetables and loves to shop!
My reaction when I saw your photo of your Panda bread? I MUST make this today..that rarely happens…great job..good luck with the move.Figtreeapps
The bread is so cute! I love the colours, plus I always love anything with green tea.
wow!! vat a perfect idea.. cant wait to try this
Oh so sweet!
my kiddos, not imaginary I am afraid, would totally dig this. They are gone this week visiting grandparents so I am missing them something terrible
That’s so cute!!! I have to try this! I don’t even want to imagine having any kids for the time being =P
Saw this bread once before. It’s so fun.
This is soooo cute!!! Thanks for the step-by-step too… I would have had no idea how to do it otherwise
that’s fantastic – how could you resist such a challenge – it appeals to my inner child – now I want an ernie doll too!
panda bread is soo adorable! i’m lovin the colours
That is the most cutest bread I have ever seen in my life! Adorable!!! I am bookmarking it.
So adorably cute!! I’m contemplating making this for my little boy….but maybe try it as a bunny? I don’t know yet
Hi, my first time at your blog and I love it! This bread is a brainwave! And just too pretty to eat!
What a neat bread! I’ve never seen anything like it – thank you for sharing it with us!
Love your panda bread, soo cute! I’m bookmarking it.
I had this bookmarked now for a long time. Thanks for the step by step. The problem with visiting food blogs is that I always see something to try with ingredients that I do not have. Amazon is making a mint off of me people! So Lorraine, I thank you, Amazon thanks you, my husband not so much:-)
Wow!! That bread loooks so cute & yummie!! What a lot of well worth work!!
Yummie,….
this is so cute!!! love the whole idea!
Hi Julia-Hehe thanks!
It’s quite nice and a decent bread for sure but I think it’s really more for the look 
Hi Anh-Why thankyou!
Hi Lisa-Thanks so much!
Hi Bethie-Thanks! Sorry to hear that!
Hi mrsdesperate-It’s not that hard! It’s quite fun really! But time consuming with all of the rises
Hi veggiebelly-Thanks so much!
Hi Soma -Hehe I bet they’d love it! Thanks! Yes I really wanted to show how it all came together
Hi sandra-I coudln’t wait to cut into it to see how they pattern turned out! It was lighly flavoured and wasn’t very sweet so more bread like than cake like
Hi Cakelaw-Thankyou! Hehe yes I know, it’s wishful thinking isn’t it!
I’m sure you will!
Hi Trisha-Isn’t Ernie the cutest
Thankyou!
Hi Steph-Aww thankyou! You should! Hehe glad to know I’m not the only one
Hi Tara-I bet he would! Ahh ok, well I can’t imagine any kid not wanting it
Naw as in what?
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Hehe thankyou! You are too kind! x
Hi Ja-Hehe you are sweet but it’s not me! Whoever invented it is a genius though!
Hi Agz-Wonderful! You can buy green tea powder at any asian grocery store or Japanese market and great idea making GT macarons!
I’ve never heard of that
but that would be great!
Hi Syrie-Thankyou! I bet you could make it with pandan and then it would be Pandan panda bread!
Hi Angela-Haha yes it’s so Japanese isn’t it! Oh no, I’m sure you are way busier than I am!
Xxx
Hi Liss-Thanks!
Ooh hav fun with it! Haha yes that too I agree! 
Hi Matilda-Haha yes I’m obsessed and I’m fine with that
Aww you are too sweet, thankyou! I was so excited when I sliced it open! 
Hi Betty-Aww thankyou! I bet you’d make an awesome mum!
Hi JeniD-definitely you should! It’s so much fun
Hi Sue-Thanks!
I hope he sleeps through soon and that is great that he’s becoming a little foodie! 
Hi deeba-Haha!
Thanks! Yes I was so excited when I saw it! Yes I’m sure a real child might drop or break that cup and saucer set! I’m so clumsy so it’s inevitable 
xxx
Hi Conor-Great, you definitely should!
Haha sure, any help will do 
Hi Sophia-Haha that’s cool!
Aw no I bet not 
Hi Gab-Thanks! Yes It had to come with me
Hi clekitty-Thankyou! It does take a bit of time but most of it is in the rising
Hi sissyhankshaw-Aww that’s great! That’s wonderful to hear, I’d also like my imginary child to be a foodie. That sounds delicious! Star Anise is an interesting addition and I’d love to see that alongside the cinnamon
Hi felicia-Thankyou! But the title of genius is for the person that invented this
You’re welcome!
Hi justJENN -Can’t wait to see your version!
Thankyou!
Hi Alexandra-Thanks!
Good luck with your move, it’s horrible stuff! Yep I hear you!
Hi Rosa-Thanks so much!
Hi yaelian-Thanks and you’re welcome!
Hi Elaine-Thankyou!
Hi Eve-Thanks so much! Aww a KISS bread is a great idea!
You know it’s funny, I think things for kids have gotten a lot cuter lately too! I buy stuff for my friends who have kids 
Hi Esz-Thankyou and of course! SOOO Japanese
Hi Sam-Oops sorry that was for another story! I was day dreaming!
Hi Midge-Hehe I gave this to hubby to take to work
Haha yes Cookie Monster-all of us have a bit of Cookie Monster in us 
Hi Carol-How could I resist? Thankyou for sending it to me
You’re welcome but really thankYOU! 
Hi Jacq-Hehe I know, it really is very cute
Hi Moya-I think apart from the rising, it was pretty easy (and also having an electronic scale helps too
).
Hi Suzie-Oh wonderful! I hope he likes it!
Hi Panda-You definitely have to with a blog name like yours!
Thankyou!
Hi foodie-central-Thankyou so much!
Hi karan-Thanks!
hehe that’s rather cute indeed! Thanks for letting us know about that! 
Hi The Asian Pear-Oh cool! I can’t wit to see yours
Hi Trissa-Yes a koala version would be great!
Hi FFichiban-Thanks! Which others? Haha high 5!
Hi Arwen-Thankyou! Yes I can only hope!
Hi katie-Hehe you are to sweet!
xxx
Hi tuulikki-Thanks! That’s very kind of you to say
Hi shaz-Hehe I think I’m a bit crazy but thankyou!
That is very cool!
Hi grace-Thankyou!
YOu are too kind Grace!
Hi Miakoda-Thanks!
Hi Akila-They taste quite nice together
Hehe you’d be a most popular aunt if you made it I bet!
Hi Lisa-Oh wonderful! I bet you’d do a brilliant job
Thanks, I’m so glad that you like the DB challenge! 
You’re welcome!
Hi Yas-Arigatooo!
Ooh pancake batter? And your pancakes are perfect! Oh really? Did they get to try any food? 
Awww Tare Panda is so cute!
Hi foodcreate-THanks so much!
Hi Faith-Thankyou! Ooh yes good qualities most definitely!
Hi Figtreeapps-Wonderful! Thanks so much, I needed it!
Hi Su-yin-Yes I loved it as soon as I saw it
Hi nora-Brilliant! I hope you do
Hi Kristen-Thanks! Aww I bet they miss you too! Maybe you could surprise them with this when they come home?
Hi pigpigscorner-Yes do!
Hehe that’s why you can have imaginary ones 
Hi The Duo Dishes-It is indeed!
Hi Anita-Thankyou! The step by step is so necessary isn’t it!
Hi Johanna-Thanks! yes everyone has an inner child don’t they! Ernie is so cute
Hi diva-Thankyou so much!
Hi anudivya-Hehe thankyou so much!
Hi Brenda-Ooh a bunny is a great idea! Let me know how it works out!
Hi The Little Teochew-Thanks so much and welcome!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou and you’re more than welcome!
Hi isa-Oh yes please do!
Hi Wizzy-Oh no, really? Although I feel the same sometimes especially when I read about gorgeous Meyer lemons etc. Hehe yes they’re better off not knowing!
Hi Sophie-Thankyou very much!
Hi penny-Thanks! I loved it too
Hi NQN,
This is sooo cute, I love it!
The is sooooo freakin’ cute! Kawaii!!
Hi Lisa-Thankyou so much!
Hi ArtemisIII-Gotta love a panda bread huh?
How cute is that bread! Reminds me of tarepanda
i tried it out on the weekend with my friends, out one didnt turn out very panda shaped but it tasted ok^^
NQN is awesome <3
Ohhhh how cute! I want to make this for my nephew but I have never seen green tea powder( i have never really gone looking for it to be honest
) would i jsut find it in the Asian sections of the super makert or do i need to go somewhere special?
ihih,super cool!
Verry cute!!!
Oh my god!! This is such a cute idea. I will definitely try it one day. Not sure if I can bring myself to eating it though.
xoxo
Lizzo
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