How To Make Sweet Nigerian Buns The Easy Way!

This post may contain affiliate links which means I will get a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure for details.

Trust me when I say you need to try Nigerian buns. There’s just something about them that is totally addictive. PLUS, they’re super easy to make!

Like the famous Nigerian puff puff, Nigerian buns are another favorite snack that no one misses buying on the streets of Nigeria.

It is highly flavored, interesting to devour because of the great difference in the texture from outside to inside, and loved by all!

A good portion of the change that my mom would give us when she left for work every morning was spent on buns and puff puff.

Apart from being on every corner of the streets, it is as a light snack before the main food at parties, picnics, family get together, official meetings, and other great functions.

This recipe is very simple to make, best enjoyed with hot chocolate tea, a cold glass of zobo drink, or Fanta Chapman.

I mean, there’s a reason why adults and children alike flock to the tray of these round goodness.

It’s seriously addicting! Lest you forget, you can still tweak the recipe to your desire!

What Are Nigerian Buns?

Nigerian buns are round-shaped, popular African snacks that are made of very simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, nutmeg, and so on.

These deep-fried dough balls have a slight crunch on the outside and a soft, doughnut-like texture on the inside.

If you can’t stand the chewiness of puff puff, you’ll love Nigerian buns.

These golden brown snacks are best enjoyed while hot. Some Nigerians still love their buns at room temperature, arguing that you can taste the added ingredients better.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick And Easy – This buns recipe is made of simple ingredients that can be mixed and fried within a few minutes. It is a perfect option if you crave something sweet after a very busy day or when you have unexpected guests show up, a very common occurrence in our Nigerian household.
• Tasty – The proteinous and flavorful ingredients, like milk, eggs, vanilla, and coconut flakes, added to it make it extra delicious. You’ll be hooked on Nigerian buns after following this recipe.
• Easily Tweaked – You can easily add, substitute and even remove some ingredients in this recipe. See the ingredients additions and substitutions section below!

What Do Nigerian Buns Taste Like?

Nigerian buns are a rich blend of sweet tastes, from the crunchy to the fluffy texture. This rich blend of flavors makes every bite of this fried snack as addicting as the previous bite.

Are Nigerian Buns Healthy?

Yes, these popular snacks in Nigeria are healthy. They are made of all-purpose flour, egg, milk, and other nutritious ingredients that make them healthy for consumption.

Although you won’t be losing any weight by eating these sweet Nigerian buns every day, it’s healthy when consumed in moderation.

What Are The Benefits Of Nigerian Buns?

Energy

The flour used in making buns contains a lot of calories which might be bad, but still offer a lot of energy.

Like most things in life, I recommend consuming these buns in moderation if you don’t have a very active lifestyle.

Protein

The egg and milk added in this recipe offer proteinous benefits, which include keeping your body cells healthy, bettering your brain function, muscle building, adequate blood flow to all parts of your body, and keeping you rejuvenated all day.

Vitamins

The ingredients in Nigerian buns are also great sources of essential vitamins that support your immune system, strengthen your bones, improve eyesight, reduce anxiety, and boost cardiovascular health.

Dopamine

You also get this feel-good energy from consuming this delicious snack. Dopamine level is an important factor for the nervous system.

Therefore, if you have had a long week and need something to help you relax, these Nigerian buns are what you should make!

Differences Between Buns And Puff puff

Texture

Nigerian buns have a crunchy but not-so-hard exterior and a fluffy and soft interior. This texture of buns is usually a result of baking powder which does not exist in the ingredients of puff puff.

Nigerian puff puff on the other hand is very soft from the exterior to the interior. It is made of yeast which is the reason for its soft texture and lightweight.

Flavor

Nigerian buns are typically very sweet, heavy, and filling. But the exact flavor can vary depending on the recipe very rich in different kinds of flavors. The sweetness is similar to that of doughnuts and less than that of cinnamon rolls.

Nigerian puff puff has a soft, fluffy texture and a mildly sweet flavor. Doe to the ingredients used, puff puffs generally have no variety in flavor.

Oil Content

Nigerian buns tend not to soak much oil during their frying process. While Nigerian puff puffs soak a lot of oil during their frying process.

Mastery

Nigerian buns require moderate to high culinary skills to come out perfect. While only a little culinary skill is required to make Nigerian puff puff.

	Nigerian Buns	Puff Puff
Texture	Crunchy, semi-hard exterior and fluffy interior	Soft texture throughout
Flavor	Rich in flavor	No variety in flavor
Oil Content	Doesn’t soak up a lot of oil while deep-frying	Tends to soak up significantly more oil while deep-frying
Mastery	Moderate-level culinary skills needed	Some culinary skills are needed
Cooking Time	Right away after mixing the dough	45-120 minutes after mixing the dough
Taste	Doughnut-like consistency	Chewy consistency

 Nigerian Buns Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour – This is the main ingredient in this recipe. Although we typically use all-purpose flour, self-rising flour and other flour substitutes can be used.
• Baking Powder – Unlike Nigerian puff puffs that call for the use of yeast, we use baking powder as the raising agent for buns. With baking powder, you do not have to wait for the dough to rise.
• Granulated Sugar – Sugar improves the sweet taste of this fried snack.
• Salt – Add salt to taste.
• Nutmeg – Athough not an absolute must-have, nutmeg gives your Nigerian buns a warm, nutty flavor.
• Milk – Milk is added to the dry ingredients instead of warm water. It forms the wet, smooth and thick buns dough and gives the snack a better taste and texture.
• Eggs – Eggs are also added with the other wet ingredients to form a better dough consistency and improve the taste and texture of your Nigerian buns.
• Butter – Room-temperature butter gives the batter a softer texture which results in a softer and sweeter snack.
• Vanilla – Pure vanilla or vanilla essence gives your Nigerian buns a unique taste.
• Grated citrus – Grated oranges or lime is a nicety to add but not essential. If you love fruity flavors, you’ll love this.
• Coconut Flakes – Just like the grated citrus, coconut coconut flakes can be added to give the buns a slight coconut taste. You can also use coconut flakes to garnish the cooked buns.
• Vegetable Oil – For deep frying the buns dough. Peanut oil and sunflower oil are other great options.

Tools Needed To Cook Buns

• Medium Bowl for mixing the ingredients
• Teaspoon
• Tablespoon
• Measuring Cup
• Deep Cooking Pot to contain the 3 inches of oil for frying.
• Frying spoon
• Paper towel

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Nigerian Buns

Vanilla And Nutmeg

You can substitute vanilla and nutmeg flavors with strawberry, almond, chocolate, cinnamon, or other flavorings.

Personally, I think vanilla and nutmeg in buns are always a hit.

Granulated Sugar

Honey is a very good sugar substitute when you are looking to make the most healthy version of this African snack.

Honey is sweeter and has more vitamins and minerals than sugar. It also offers more health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels and preventing weight gain (source).

Milk

You can use reduced-fat milk instead of peak milk and other sweetened milk. This makes your buns healthier, especially if you are on a weight loss journey.

How to Make Nigerian Buns At Home (Step-by-Step)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon grated lime
• 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 0.5 cup whole or 2% milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/5 cup melted butter
• deep frying oil
• 0.5 cup coconut flakes (optional)

Instructions

STEP 1: Combine all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, lime zest, and nutmeg.) in a large mixing bowl.

STEP 2: Add the milk, egg, vanilla, and coconut flakes into the bowl.

STEP 3: Make sure the mixture is thoroughly combined. It should be smooth, thick, and easily scooped.

STEP 4: Pour enough oil into a large pot to come up to at least three inches (enough to cover the buns dough). Turn the stove to medium, and let the oil get hot but not extremely hot where you see fumes.

STEP 5: You need a lot of oil for the buns to float in; otherwise, they will turn out flat. Drop in a few dough balls so that they do not stick together.

Fry until golden brown, then flip so the other side gets cooked. This should take about 3 minutes.

STEP 6: Collect the cooked buns in a bowl or colander layered with oil-absorbing paper or napkin.

STEP 7: Garnish and serve with a hot or cold drink like Fanta Chapman.

What To Serve With Nigerian Buns

• Serve these delicious snacks with chilled or hot drinks of choice. This could be chocolate tea, milk, yogurt, ice cream, Nigerian zobo drink, fruit juice, coca cola, or even iced water!
• For a more tasty snack, serve your Nigerian buns with chocolate dipping spread or drizzled with caramel sauce or honey. For a healthier spin, crunchy or creamy peanut butter will be an irresistible combination.
• And if you’re feeling fancy, serve these delicious buns with some Jam and Nutella! Cut the buns balls into two equal sizes and spread some jam or Nutella on the soft interior before devouring it.

Tips To Help You Make The Best Deep Fried Buns

• Add the liquid milk, egg, vanilla, coconut flakes, and little oil in a separate bowl where you whisk them evenly before mixing them bit by bit in the dry mixture.
• If you are using powdered milk, mix it with warm water before whisking it in the other wet ingredients.
• The batter for buns should be smooth, thick, and spoonable. Therefore, make sure to mix the dry mixture with the wet ingredients very well so that you get the right consistency.
• Fry the buns in oil of 3 inches or more. This is because using small amounts of oil can make your buns flat, too oily, and uncooked. The result is a donut-like snack that is unpalatable.
• Medium heat should be used throughout the frying process. This is because very high heat can cause your buns to be cooked on the outside and uncooked on the inside.
• If you cannot use your hand to scoop batter into the oil, use an ice cream scoop instead. This particular tool will give you more well-rounded shaped buns than two ordinary spoons will.

How To Store Nigerian Buns

Your buns can quickly become stale if exposed to air. Wrap it in aluminum foil and put it in a tight container before keeping it in the refrigerator.

Nigerian buns will last up to three months in the freezer. When you are ready to eat again, defrost it and reheat it in a microwave or air fryer for about 5-8 minutes. Psst! Don’t put foil paper in your microwave.

FAQ About Nigerian Buns

Conclusion

Nigerian puff puff is a delicious snack that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is perfect for any occasion and can be easily found in many Nigerian supermarkets at home and abroad.

Follow this easy recipe to have a plate of buns ready for chowtime in no more than 30 minutes. Most people in Nigeria enjoy it with the popular Nigerian zobo drink or Chapman drink.

If you are looking for something sweet and tasty, then look no further than Nigerian puff puff! Crunchy on the outside and springy soft on the inside, Nigerian buns are a delicious treat that everyone should try at least once.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy these Nigerian buns as much as I do. Want to see more Nigerian recipes? Here are some recipes suggestions for you.

• The Only Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe You Need
• How to make Akara – Black Eyed Peas Fritters
• You’ll Love These Keto Almond Flour Pancakes
• Try These No Bake Peanut Butter Coconut Bites!
• How To Make Keto Cookie Dough Fat Bombs