Miso-pan

Simple and nostalgic taste made by a shop in Utsunomiya

“Miso-pan” from Maruzen Shoten, which was established in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture in 1939 and has been a favorite of local residents since then. Maruzen Shoten is a store that has been making handmade sweets while being loved by the neighborhood, and this “Miso Pan” also has the feel of a handmade sweet bread.

“Miso-pan” comes in a variety of shapes and forms from all over Japan, but Maruzen Shoten’s Miso-pan is rectangular, made of dough mixed with miso paste and baked like a bread. As you can see, the bread is baked to a golden brown, and although there are two pieces stacked on top of each other, they have a crispy texture that does not stick to each other and have a good volume.

The back side reveals more of the baking process. The outer skin is smooth, crispy, and light.

When I split it in half, I could feel the texture between fluffy bread and dry bread. It was crispy and separated, but the dough inside was also slightly moist.

The dough has a light texture with lots of air and a slight aroma of miso.

It was so good that I thought it might be my favorite among all the “miso buns” I have ever eaten. The aroma of miso is just a hint, and the simple sweetness of the dough is perfectly balanced. It is a nostalgic snack that goes well with milk. It is easy to see why it has been loved by the locals for so long.