I don't do fancy stuff for breakfast. Seriously. Some people might look at my breakfast posts and disagree, but as I explained in my Cherry Sour Cream Scones post, most morning meals are simple with just fruit and grains of some sort. With three little boys to get going in the mornings, I don't have the luxury to make extravagant breakfasts. Though I dearly love cinnamon rolls and could eat them every single morning, I reserve fancy things like that for special occasions such as Christmas or when we have family visiting. Actually, that's probably a good thing because all that butter and sugar goes straight to my backside.
For our September project, Marce of Pip in the City challenged The Daring Bakers to tackle Peter Reinhart's cinnamon and sticky buns from The Bread Baker's Apprentice. I own the book and have made several things from it, but I've never made Reinhart's cinnamon buns because we have a family recipe that we really like, so thanks to Marce for the opportunity to try this recipe. As usual, the DBs have to stick to the recipe with only a few modifications allowed:
- We could mix up the spices and use things other than cinnamon if we wanted to,
- We could make both cinnamon and sticky buns or choose just one,
- We didn't have to use nuts for the sticky buns if we were allergic to nuts or just don't like them,
- We could skip the raisins or substitute other dried fruits that we thought might work well, and
- If a particular ingredient was unavailable or cost-prohibitive in our region, then we could substitute.
Since I'm not a sticky buns fan, I decided to skip those and just make the cinnamon buns. The recipe does list a few options for some of the ingredients, so I've written the recipe the way I made it. For the full recipe and all the variations, including instructions for making the sticky buns, check out Marce's blog. One thing that I'll be straight up about is that I only made half of the glaze and found that it was plenty for a batch of buns. We made 16 smaller buns, but even they were still a couple inches in diameter, so unless you just like humongous pastries, you can probably make 12 to 16 buns out of the recipe and no one will feel like they were cheated by a too-small bun.
The dough is soft and lovely to work with, and has a light, interesting flavor, and the buns were popular around the neighborhood, but overall I think I prefer the family recipe (sorry, Peter). The main difference between the two is the filling: Reinhart's recipe uses simple cinnamon sugar in the middle layer, while our family recipe calls for butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and chopped nuts. We just happen to prefer gooey, loaded cinnamon rolls, and I will post that recipe as we get closer to the holidays since that's when we typically enjoy them.
Make sure you hop on over to The Daring Bakers Blogroll and check out all the beautiful buns!
Cinnamon Rolls and Sticky Buns
Equipment
- stand mixer with paddle and dough hook attachments
- small bowl
- large mixing bowl, lightly coated with cooking spray
- silicone pastry sheet (optional)
- half sheet baking pan, lined with parchment paper
Ingredients
Dough
- 6½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5½ tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large egg (slightly beaten)
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract (or 1 teaspoon grated zest of 1 lemon)
- 3½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1⅛ cups whole milk (or buttermilk, room temperature, up to 1¼ cups)
- ½ cup cinnamon sugar (6½ tablespoons granulated sugar plus 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon)
Glaze (I made half this amount and thought it was plenty.)
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract (or orange, vanilla, or rum extract)
Preparation
Dough
- In the bowl of the stand mixer and using the paddle attachment, cream together the sugar, salt, and butter, until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix thoroughly. Add the lemon extract/zest and mix until combined.
- In the small bowl, stir together the flour and yeast, then add to the butter mixture and stir. Add the milk.
- Mix on low speed until the dough starts coming together in a ball and clears the sides of the bowl. Switch to the dough hook, and knead on low for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and supple, not sticky. If the dough is too sticky, add a tablespoon or two of flour. If the dough is too dry and shaggy, add a tablespoon of milk.
- Transfer the kneaded dough to the oiled large bowl, and spray a little cooking spray over the top of the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm location to rise until doubled, about 2 hours.
Shape
- Move the dough onto a silicone pastry mat or mist some cooking spray on your work surface, then roll it out into a rectangle about ⅔-inch thick. Lightly dust the top of the dough with flour while you work to keep the rolling pin from sticking. If you want 12 to 16 buns, then make the rectangle 9 inches by 18 inches. If you want 8 buns, then make the rectangle 12 inches by 14 inches.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top of the rectangle, then roll the dough into a log. Cut the log in half, and then half each piece again. Continue cutting until you have the desired number of buns (8 to 16).
- Place the cut buns on the parchment paper with about ½-inch distance between them. Allow the buns to sit at room temperature for up to 90 minutes, until the buns have nearly doubled in size and spread into each other.
Bake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Put the rack in the middle of the oven.
- Bake the buns for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Glaze
- While the buns are baking, stir together the powdered sugar, extract, and milk in a small bowl. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and thick.
- Drizzle the glaze over the tops of the buns while they are still warm. Remove buns to a cooling rack and allow to sit for 20 minutes before serving.
Meeta says
Simply gorgeous. Andrea you have some hot looking buns there! 😉
Hilda says
Even if you didn't like the recipe better than yours (I agree with you about the raisins, I actually wondered if the recipe for raisin buns isn't essentially that without the cinnamon), they look wonderful anyway. Nice looking buns (which as Lis pointed out sounds so pervy) 😉
Laurie says
We do easy morning breakfast here too, I have 3 boys as well. There is no other way! LOL
Your rolls look perfect! We perfer a loaded roll in this house too. Damn you Cinnabon for ruining the simple cinnamon roll for all of eternity!
Job very well done Andrea!
Jenny says
Oooh, I liked these buns but I also really like the sounds of your family recipe so will be waiting anxiously for your recipe Andrea.
And I'm with you - much as I love these for breakfast, with the kids and school, cereal is what it has to be.
Annemarie says
I also had to drastically reduce the amount of glaze, and even then I had loads. I like the sound of your family's buns, with the butter in the middle, since i felt these could have used a bit more punch from the filling. Great buns, though!
Anne says
I'm with you - I prefer my usual recipe as well, but your buns look beautiful! I love your glazing!
Jes says
Your buns look fab! And aren't special breakfast foods fun? 🙂
Ivonne says
Wheeeeeeeew! Those are some incredible looking buns. Great job!
Dagmar says
They look great, well done!
Tartelette says
Look at those! Great job Andrea!
Anita says
Wonderful looking rolls, your experience must have helped you make them turn out so great!
kellypea says
Gorgeous buns! The photos are excellent. I, too, used to not be a sticky bun lover, but I did find that it was because some of the "topping" was too sticky, and caramelly without creaminess. The caramel on this recipe is excellent. Of course, adding butter makes it beyond description!
Belinda says
The cinnamon buns look like the perfect special occasion breakfast, that's for sure...they turned out beautifully! I like the idea of making these for Christmas morning. 🙂
MyKitchenInHalfCups says
You mean of course they go straight to my beautiful buns, right!
Andrea your buns are picture perfect.
I'm with you: more cinnamon, brown sugar, butter - I most always use dried blueberries (and soak them in wine).
breadchick says
Your buns look so good and puffy. I agree the dough was a dream to work with and had a light flavour. Can't wait to see your family recipe close to the Holdiays. Great job on this month's challenge.
Maryann says
They look soooo good!
Marce says
Great job on your challenge. The buns look dreamy!
Jenny says
So did you do anything differently while making them, since you had the three boys? Or did you have the chance to do it all in one setting?
peabody says
Excellent job.
I halved the amount of icing too!
Anh says
You are so right! I can eat this everyday for breakfast and snacking.
steph (whisk/spoon) says
look at all those beautiful buns! i agree that a filling with brown sugar makes a much gooey-er bun, and always like to add nuts to mine, too.
Laura says
But your buns are supposed to go straight to your "buns"! That's the beauty of them. Looking forward to your family recipe too.
maria~ says
Ooo, your rolls rose so beautifully! Tall and proud 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks to all my dear Daring Baker friends for your sweet comments! And I definitely don't need anymore buns on my backside! 😉
Laurie: Isn't it just insane with three little boys in the mornings? I deliberately chose afternoon preschool this year so that we could get out the door on time! teehee
Jenny: It took me all day to make these! I usually reserve DB projects for evenings after the kids have gone to bed, but I just couldn't get myself organized this week. So I had to jump in and make them rather last minute on Friday!
April says
Yum!! all of that yummy white icing looks delicious!!!
Chris says
Yum!!! Looks great!
brilynn says
Seeing everyone else's buns makes me want to make more! Nicely done.
Chez Denise et Laudalino says
Love your buns .. they look davine (sp)! As well, the cakes on your site are wonderful, especially like the applesauce one, I will have to try it out!
Katie says
Wow you made loads! They look great
baking soda says
Same here, three boys and all! Couldn't get them ready for breakfast but they were delicious any time! Well done!
Dharm says
They look so professional! Well done
Pille says
I agree with Dharm - they look really professional!
joey says
Your cinnamon rolls are so perfectly round and plump...professional looking indeed! 🙂
blue zebra says
Seriously beautiful!
BZ
Dolores says
I'm with you Andrea, I missed the raisins in the cinnamon buns too. I'm glad you participated -- sometimes it's important to acknowledge that in some small way, *every* day is a special day.
Amy says
Great job on the challenge! I can't wait to see your family recipe, it sounds delicious!
Deborah says
Your buns look great! I can't wait to hear the family recipe!
Aoife says
It sounds like your family recipe is closer to Peter's sticky bun version. In any case, your rolls look lovely and perfect for a more decadent breakfast.
Julie says
My breakfasts are pretty austere, too--oatmeal or yogurt with some add-ins. These would be great for a brunch party, though. They look so decadent!
Jen says
Great looking buns! I really like your picture montage too. 🙂
Cris says
Hum, I would love these for a weekend breakfast, as during the week my breakfasts are just fruit, oat meal, yogurt and black coffee. They look great Andrea!
African Vanielje says
Wow, you look like you have been baking these all your life. They are so perfect, and what a lovely post
Lisa says
Although I think your buns turned out lovely - I have to agree with you.. I would prefer the loaded ooey, gooey buns much more. PLEASE post yours - I'd love to see!!
xoxo
Bruno says
Andrea, I bet your family enjoyed this special breakfast treat! Beautiful!