Manju (Japanese Sweet Bean Paste Cookies)

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 (18 ounce) can koshi an (sweetened red bean paste)
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk, or as needed

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.

Beat sugar and butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Beat eggs, 1 at a time, into creamed butter until smooth; add vanilla extract and beat well.

Sift flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture, mixing well after each addition, until dough is smooth.

Generously flour your hands. Make walnut-size balls from the dough and press into 4-inch circles on a floured surface, making the circles thicker in the center and thinner on the edges. Spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons koshi an in the center of each dough circle. Gather the edges together and pinch dough around the filling until sealed. Place dough balls, pinched-side down, on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Brush dough balls with evaporated milk.

Bake in the preheated oven until tops are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.