Preheat oven to 350F and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, add ¼ cup of hot water and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Mix to dissolve the sugar. Add 1 cup of flour and the salt. Cut ¼ cup of butter into the bowl too.
Mix using your hands until the butter is well distributed and the dough forms a ball. If it is too dry, you can add a little bit of water. Roll into a ball and then cover with a clean towel.
In a separate bowl, add the remaining flour and cut in the remaining butter. Mix with your hands until it forms a dough.
Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the bigger dough to a half inch thickness in a rectangle shape.
Separately, roll out the second dough to a rectangle 2/3rds the size of the first. Place it on one side of the larger dough.
Fold the opposite end of the first dough 1/3rd of the way over, then fold the other edge over similarly (like a letter).
Turn the dough so the long end is facing you and roll it back out. Fold into thirds again. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes.
Roll the dough into a triangle again then cut it in half long ways.
Roll up each half long ways like a hotdog. Cut each dough roll into 12 even chunks. Cover them while you work to prevent them dying out.
Flatten a dough piece into a thin circle.
Add a tablespoon of your chosen (cooled) filling into the center. Fold all the edges of the dough over to meet in the middle then pinch closed.
Place the dough ball in a biscuit cutter and press down to get the dough to seal and shape.
Place the circle onto the baking tray, pinched side up, and repeat with remaining dough.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. They should turn golden on top.
While the hopia is baking, crack an egg into a bowl with a little bit of water and beat with a fork.
Remove the hopia from the oven and turn over. Brush the top with the egg wash and return to the oven for another 10 minutes until lightly browned.
Remove from oven and cool before serving.