(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...This iconic Hong Kong café (cha chaan teng) breakfast features thick-cut white bread toasted to a golden crisp, then crowned with a generous slab of cold salted butter that melts into every crevice. A dollop of sweet strawberry jam completes this simple yet decadent morning treat, traditionally paired with a cup of strong milk tea.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time7 mins
Total Time12 mins
Servings2
Yield2 servings (4 slices)
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 480 kcalCalories
- 26 gFat
- 16 gSaturated Fat
- 52 gCarbs
- 2 gFiber
- 20 gSugar
- 7 gProtein
- 420 mgSodium
- 130 mgPotassium
- 70 mgCalcium
- 2.5 mgIron
- 5 mgVitamin C
- 320 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the toast
- 4 thick slices white sandwich bread (about 1.5 cm thick, Hong Kong style)
- 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (for spreading on bread)
- 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into thick slabs (for topping)
- 4 tablespoons strawberry jam (seedless preferred)
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (optional drizzle)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread a thin, even layer of softened butter on one side of each bread slice, going all the way to the edges.
- Place slices buttered side up on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 6 to 7 minutes, until the tops are deep golden and crisp.
- Remove the toast from the oven and immediately place one thick slab of cold salted butter in the center of each hot slice.
- Let the butter rest for about 30 seconds so it begins to soften and melt into the warm bread without losing its shape.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of strawberry jam over the melting butter on each slice, letting it cascade slightly toward the edges.
- Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk if using, for an extra layer of caramel-like sweetness.
- Serve immediately while the toast is warm, the butter glossy, and the bread crisp at the edges.
Cook’s Notes
- Use day-old, thick-sliced white bread if possible; Hong Kong style toast bread or shokupan gives the best chewy-crisp contrast.
- Keep the topping butter cold but sliceable so it holds its iconic slab shape while slowly melting from the toast's heat.
- For the full cha chaan teng experience, serve alongside soft-boiled eggs with soy sauce and a cup of hot Hong Kong milk tea.
- Swap the strawberry jam for kaya, lemon curd, or peanut butter to explore other classic Hong Kong café variations.
- Do not skip the pre-butter on the bread; it creates the signature golden, fragrant crust that defines this toast.
