Huajuan is a Chinese steamed roll that is named after its shape; “flower twist.” The dough itself is plain – just water, flour, yeast, and a touch of sugar – but sometimes it can be rolled with other ingredients such as brown sugar or minced meat.
I like to affectionately think of the sweet huajuan as the Chinese cinnamon roll. They are essentially the same thing: a sheet of yeast-leavened dough rolled with sugar. The only difference is that huajuan is steamed, and missing cream cheese frosting.
Otherwise, it is the same idea: a gooey, warm, sweet, sticky roll!
Leah Sprague 