Free recipe guide
How to make Anpan
Learn what makes Anpan special, cook the free ComidaTime recipe, then keep cooking from Authentic Japanese Cuisine.
Why cooks start here
Anpan is cooked the way bakeries cooks it — salt judged by hand, fat used generously, and the table set for sharing. This is the home version, written down the way a japanese family cook actually puts it on the table.
Anpan, a beloved Japanese sweet bread, finds its origins in the Meiji era, when Western-style baking began to influence Japanese confectionery. Traditionally enjoyed as a snack or a light breakfast treat, this delightful bun is often found lining the shelves of Japanese bakeries, its warm, inviting scent drawing in passersby. At home, Anpan is a comforting staple, prepared with care and shared around the family table. Beneath its golden, egg-brushed crust, Anpan holds a generous filling of smooth red bean paste, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and subtle saltiness. The dough is soft yet resilient, each bite yielding a comforting chew that pairs beautifully with a gentle sprinkle of sesame seeds on top. This home-cooked version invites you to savor the simple pleasures of this classic treat.
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