Seasons| How to Paint on Buns

I have seen beautiful paintings done on cakes and cookies using edible paints. But I haven't seen any painting done on breads or buns. So I decided to try it out and learnt a few things along the way. Follow the easy instructions to surprise your family with painted dinner rolls. Or you can write simple messages for others!

I was always fascinated by how the landscape just transforms with each passing season. So I chose this theme for this project.

You can choose any bread recipe but try to choose a bread recipe that doesnt brown too much. Otherwise the designs that we paint won't be visible.

Ingredients

For the dough:

3 cups all-purpose flour/ bread flour

1 tsp. instant yeast

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

4 tbsp oil plus 1 tbsp. butter

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup milk

For Painting:

Edible Gel colors

Paint Brush

Equipment

Square pan

Measuring cups and spoons

Baking mat

Paint brush

Stand mixer (optional)

Get your ingredients and your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and you are ready to go. You can make this dough by hand, just get ready to knead for about 10 minutes.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all ingredients for dough except milk plus water mixture.

On low speed, gradually add milk and water till the dough starts to leave the sides of the bowl. Increase speed to medium and knead dough for 7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Remove dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a dry towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

Divide dough into 8 portions. Take 4 portions of 100 grams each.This was used to make 4 round buns to paint the seasons.

I used the rest of the dough and divided into 8 balls to make dinner rolls to write a message. I placed the balls in a 6*6 pan.

Let the buns proof for the second proof about 25-30 min. When we are halfway through the second proofing we should start painting. Then we will have enough time to paint. Choose simple designs since we have to finish before the buns are overproofed.

When the buns are proofed halfway through I started to paint the summer season . I painted a tree. I added fruits, a sun, bumble bee and some clouds.

Next I painted the spring season. I went for a lighter shade of green. I also added a few flowers.

Next I painted the Autumn season using yellow colour. I added some shading using orange and red colours. I added some leaves below the tree.

Next I painted the winter season. I painted a tree with no leaves and some snow.

Bake for about 10-12 min at 180 deg C/360 F till lightly browned. In case it is browning too much, cover the tin with aluminium foil.

This is one of my earlier trial. I browned the bun a little too much.

Half way through the second proofing I added a message in red paint.

Enjoy your colourful buns. This is a fun project.

You can also use natural colours using dried vegetable powders (spinach powder, beetroot powder etc) and turmeric powder mixed with a little water.

Do try out this and let me know how it turns out for you. I will be glad to hear from you.