How to Draw a Bao Bun (Easy Step by Step)
A bao bun is a soft, round, steamed bun, and it becomes a friendly character once you give it a smiling face. This drawing is built from a big dome, a basket made of curved bands, a few pleat lines, two dots and a smile. Most of it is gentle curves, which makes it a good first drawing for beginners.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a bao bun step by step
How to Draw a Bao Bun · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The round bun
Draw a big dome like the top of a ball. Start low on the left, curve up and over the top, and come down on the right, leaving the bottom open.
Step 3: Basket side and bottom
Below the bun, start at the left and draw a line that goes down and slightly inward. Then curve it along the bottom with a wide rounded line that ends and turns up a little on the right.
Step 4: The basket rim
Across the bun, draw a long, almost flat line that joins the top of the basket's left side. Add a small curl at each end where the rim hugs the bun, and let the right end stick out past the dome.
Step 5: Bands and right side
Draw two curved lines across the basket, one in the middle and one lower down, from the left side to the right. Then draw the basket's right side going down from the rim to join the bottom.
Step 6: The top fold
Near the top of the bun, draw a wide curved arch inside the dome that follows its shape. It shows where the dough is folded.
Step 7: Face, pleats and steam
Draw a small loop on top of the bun, then short curved pleat lines that start at one spot under the loop and fan out. Add two dot eyes and a small smile, and finish with two wavy steam lines above.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your bao bun? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw mochi or how to draw an ice cream sandwich next.
Tips for drawing a bao bun
- Sketch the bun as a light circle first, then draw the dark line over it. The bun should look like a ball sitting in the basket.
- The pleats are the trickiest part. Start every pleat at the same spot under the little loop and let each one curve away like the spokes of a fan.
- Draw the basket bands as curved lines, not straight ones. That makes the basket look round and deep.
Free bao bun coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this bao bun coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your bao bun drawing
Color the bun a soft cream or pale yellow and the basket a warm light brown. For a creative twist, color the bun pink or make it a rainbow bun.
Bao bun fun fact for kids
Bao are often steamed in stacked bamboo baskets. Steam rises through the gaps in the basket and cooks the dough until it turns soft and fluffy.
Questions about drawing a bao bun
What shapes do I need to draw a bao bun?
You need a big dome for the bun, a wide bowl shape for the basket, and a few curved lines for the bands and pleats. The face is just two dots and a small curve.
How do I make my bao bun look cuter?
Place the eyes low and wide apart, and keep the smile small. Adding a little steam on top makes it even friendlier.
How do I draw the steamer basket?
Start with the left side and the curved bottom, add a rim across the top, then draw curved lines across it. Curving the lines makes the basket look round instead of flat.
