Sweet Nigerian Buns Recipe (African Buns)

Easy Nigerian buns recipe

What are Nigerian buns

Nigerian 'Buns' are deep fried Pastry balls. They are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. These deep fried buns are easy to make and takes little of your time.

This is a snack you can easily whip up while guests are in the living room. You get to serve it to your guests fresh from the frying pan while succulent and warm.

What is the difference between Buns and Puff puff?

Nigerian buns (African buns) are both popular Nigerian street foods, however they differ in texture and ingredients used.

Texture: Buns have sweet and crunchy exterior and soft pillow interior. On the other hand, puff puff is soft on the inside and outside and are similar to drop yeast donuts.

Ingredients: They use similar ingredients, but the major difference is in the rising agent used. Yeast is used to make puff puff while baking powder is used for buns.

Ingredients

• All purpose flour
• Butter
• Eggs
• Milk
• Sugar
• Nutmeg or Cinnamon (optional)
• Vanilla extract (optional)
• Oil for deep frying

Tools needed for Buns (Nigerian)

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• My favorite deep fry pans or pots to use are from 360 cookware. You should check them out and use MDK25 to get 25% your entire order.
• Pottella deep square 9.5" copper pan: it has a frying basket, a steamer tray plus you get a free cookbook with it.
• Paper towels: This is used to absorb excess oil when you scoop out the buns.
• Frying spoon: This one comes in a set of three. Best value
• Serving platter: This would be the perfect plate to serve these buns on when you invite guests over.

How to make Nigerian Buns

This is an overview of this recipe. You will find a complete list of ingredients with quantity at the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

To make these deep fried buns, mix the dry ingredients (baking powder to flour and salt) Add cinnamon or nutmeg at this stage if using.

Create a well in the middle of the dry ingredient mix, pour all the wet ingredients into the well. Mix until it all comes together. Batter should be thick. Allow batter for rest for 5 mins.In the meantime start heating up the oil.

Next using your hand, scoop up the batter and squeeze batter with your hands gently into the hot oil. Be careful not to let the hands touch the oil.

Alternatively you can use an ice cream scoop and drop gently into the oil. Do not overcrowd the oil. Fry until buns are golden brown.

Scoop with a frying spoon on to a paper towel lined colander. Repeat process till all the batter is fried into buns

What to serve with Nigerian Buns

Nigerian buns can be enjoyed as is or with a glass of milk, hot chocolate or your favorite homemade juice. Some of which are listed below

• Chilled homemade Pineapple
• Mango juice
• Zobo
• Watermelon juice
• Nigerian Chapman
• Pina Colada
• Pineapple coconut juice

Storing leftovers

Leftovers are easy to store, if you do have them. Though Nigerian buns can sit on the counter for a day, I recommend refrigerating them as soon as they cool down.

These can be keep in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 5 days. When you are ready to eat them, simply reheat in the microwave or air fryer till it’s warmed through.

Tips to make the best Nigerian buns (deep fried buns)

• The batter for buns should be thick and not watery.
• The best pan to fry buns is a deep pan not a shallow pan.
• Wait for the oil to get hot before adding the batter otherwise it will absorb excess oil and become greasy.
• Do not overcrowd the oil it can also cause the buns ti absorb excess oil.
• Use a slotted spoon to get the cooked buns out of the oil.
• Line the tray or plate with paper towels to absorb excess oil when you scoop them out of the oil.

FAQ

Can you make Nigerian buns in the air fryer?

Unfortunately you can’t air fryer African buns because it’s a wet batter. However you can easily reheat leftovers in the air fryer.

Will self rising flour work?

You can substitute all purpose flour with self rising flour in this recipe. If you do so, leave out the baking powder stated in the recipe.

Can I use yeast instead of baking powder?

No you can’t use yeast to make Nigerian buns. What you need is baking powder. Yeast is used for Nigerian puff puff.

More Nigerian snacks you’ll like

• Nigerian Chin chin
• Nigerian meat pie
• Nigerian plantain balls
• Plantain chips
• Nigerian chicken pie
• Nigerian Puff puff