AFRICAN BUNS - NIGERIAN BUNS

Nigerian buns - Small golden balls of pure goodness, slightly crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside.

What Are Nigerian Buns?

Nigerian buns are a type of sweet, fried snack that is popular in West Africa. The batter is made from flour, baking powder, milk, and sugar, while the flavor can be nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, or any other flavoring of choice.

Buns are the closest sibling to the Nigerian Puff Puff, which is basically a fried yeast dough. Unlike the Nigerian puff puff, which uses yeast, buns do not require yeast; instead, they use baking powder as their leavening agent.

Buns are extremely popular on the roadsides all over Nigeria. They are usually sold as snacks and are often seen on the roadside, fried in a large frypan, and sold by hawkers or vendors from a portable stall.

Although buns are deep-fried like the African Puff Puff, they do not absorb as much oil, and the best part is that you can throw all the ingredients together and your Buns are ready in less than 30 minutes.

If you are avoiding eggs or just don't have eggs at home, and still want to make buns. Then try this eggless buns version, you will love them just as much!

Buns vs Puff Puff (Difference)

Some people often confuse the two, but they are quite different.

• Buns - slightly crisp, denser, made with baking powder
• Puff puff - soft, airy, made with yeast

Both are great, just different textures.

Why I Love This Recipe

• No yeast, so no waiting time
• Simple ingredients you probably already have
• Ready in under 30 minutes
• Easy to adjust to your taste

It’s also one of the easiest Nigerian snacks to get right, even if you’re just starting out.

Can I Make Adjustments To This Buns Recipe?

Keep in mind, there are about as many approaches to making buns. This version, as you can see from the description and pictures, is a bit crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. My recipe is not overly sweet either. So you can add a bit more sugar if you want it sweeter.

Also, in this recipe, I used nutmeg as my flavor. You can substitute that with vanilla, cinnamon, or any other flavoring of your choice. You can skip the flavoring if you don't want any.

You can even skip the eggs and make the eggless buns version.

Subtle differences like these are common. However, you are free to use this recipe as a blueprint, making it once and tweaking accordingly to your taste.

Ingredients For Making The Nigerian Buns

• Flour – gives structure
• Sugar – adds sweetness (adjust to taste)
• Baking powder – helps it rise
• Eggs – adds richness and structure
• Milk – brings everything together
• Butter – adds flavor
• Nutmeg – classic flavor, but optional
• Oil – for frying

How To Make African Buns

• In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Add milk, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until you get a thick batter.
• Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat to about 350°F (175°C). 
• Scoop small portions of batter into the oil.
• Fry until golden brown, turning to ensure even cooking.
• Remove and place on paper towels or a rack to drain excess oil.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Storage

• Best eaten the same day. Texture is best when fresh
• Can last for a day at room temperature
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days, but they become drier day by day.

How To Serve Buns

The Nigerian Buns are eaten mainly as a snack, but they can also be eaten as breakfast, served with tea. Though these

These are so delicious when served hot or at room temperature. These snacks would be great for a party, a side dish for a meal, or a snack just about anytime you want!

Tips For Best Results!

• Don't make big balls, or else the buns will not cook through on the inside
• Oil that is too cool will soak up way too much oil, and oil that is too hot will just crisp your buns too quickly without cooking them through on the inside. So if you're unsure about the oil's temperature, it's okay to use a quick-read thermometer to ensure it isn’t too cool or too hot.
• If you don't have a cooking thermometer, you can test-fry one scoop of the batter before adding the rest. That will help determine if your oil is the perfect temperature for frying. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why are my buns soaking up too much oil?

Your oil is likely too cool. Make sure it is hot enough before frying.

How do I know the oil is ready?

Drop a small bit of batter into the oil.
If it rises slowly and starts frying, the oil is ready.

Can I bake Nigerian buns instead of frying?

Not really. This recipe is meant for frying. Baking will not give you the same texture.

What flavor can I use instead of nutmeg?

You can use vanilla, cinnamon, or leave it plain.

Why are my buns raw inside?

They may be too big, or the oil is too hot, causing the outside to cook faster than the inside.

Other Nigerian Snacks You May Enjoy:

• The Nigerian Chinchin
• The Nigerian puff puff
• Nigerian Egg roll

LET’S CONNECT!

Let’s connect on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.  I love keeping in touch with you, and nothing brings me more joy than seeing pictures of your creations.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pictures of your creations on Instagram and Facebook.