Epic Cinnamon Buns Food

THE BEST CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• Whisk together the whole milk and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit 10 minutes to dissolve; you will see a few bubbles, but the mixture won't be foamy. Whisk together the granulated sugar, eggs and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt in a small bowl.
• Add the bread flour, whole-wheat flour, milk powder and beaten eggs to the yeast and mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Fit the bowl in place on the stand mixer and fit the mixer with the dough hook. Mix on medium speed until the dough comes together but is still slightly tough, about 3 minutes. Increase the speed to high and add 10 tablespoons of the butter a tablespoon at a time (the dough will look broken after each addition, but it will eventually come together) and beat until the dough is smooth, elastic and very tacky but pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 12 minutes. (This may seem like a long time, but the texture of the bread improves with a long knead time.) Alternatively, knead the dough on a surface lightly dusted with bread flour, adding 1 tablespoon of butter at a time, until smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area until it has a buttery, yeasty smell and has doubled in volume, 30 to 45 minutes. (If your kitchen is warm, check it at 35 minutes. It should smell buttery and yeasty, and if it's doubled, it's done. If not, check again in 10 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, whisk together the dark brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl until no lumps of sugar remain. Smash in the remaining 12 tablespoons butter with a rubber spatula and stir until completely combined.
• Place a large sheet of parchment paper on a clean work surface and heavily dust with bread flour. Gently deflate the dough by lifting it up around the edges and letting it fall back into the bowl, turning the bowl and repeating if needed. Place the dough on the paper. Roll the dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle, pushing the edges towards the center to make straight sides. Spread the brown sugar mixture over the dough in an even layer, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edges. Starting from a long end and using the parchment to help you, tightly roll the dough into a log, pressing the sides occasionally to keep them flush. Transfer to a baking sheet and freeze for 20 minutes to firm up the dough.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Cut the dough crosswise into 12 pieces and arrange them cut-side up in the pan in a uniform 3-by-4 grid. There will be about 1/4 inch between each roll and that's ok, the rolls will fill in the gaps as they proof and bake. Let rise, uncovered, in a warm, draft-free area, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the cinnamon rolls until golden brown on top and baked all the way through, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for about 30 minutes before glazing.
• Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners' sugar, cream, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl until smooth and creamy, adding more cream if necessary to make a thick glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cinnamon rolls and serve warm.

CINNAMON BUNS

Steps:

• Combine the water and milk in a medium saucepan and warm over low heat until it is about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees). Remove from heat and sprinkle the yeast over the surface over the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top and set aside without stirring, until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture.
• Whisk the flour, the sugar, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn dough onto a floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Put dough in the buttered bowl, turning to coat lightly with butter. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough on the plastic, and note the time. Let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Turn dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; reform into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with plastic and proof in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight.
• To fill and form the rolls: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Whisk the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Turn prepared dough onto a floured work surface and press, then roll into 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long edge facing you. Spread the softened butter evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving about an inch border on the side opposite you. Evenly scatter the cinnamon-sugar over the butter. Starting from the long side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight cylinder. Lightly brush the clean edge of the dough with water. Press the open long edge to the dough to seal the cylinder.
• Slip a long taut piece of string or dental floss under the roll, about 1 1/2 inches from the end. Lift and cross the string ends over the roll, then pull the ends tightly in opposite directions to cut a single roll. Repeat, cutting every 1 1/2 inches, to make 12 rolls. Place the rolls cut-side-down in the prepared pan, leaving 1 inch of space between them. Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place to rise until rolls double in size, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bake buns until golden brown and the tops of the buns spring back when pressed lightly, about 30 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
• To make the glaze: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Whisk in the condensed milk, butter, and lemon juice to make a smooth, slightly loose icing. Add the vanilla and cinnamon. Drizzle the icing over warm buns. Serve.

EPIC CINNAMON BUNS

Steps:

• Start the dough at least 4 hours before you want to be eating these or plan to start it the night before and do the first rise overnight in the fridge. Mix warm milk with honey and yeast, set aside for 5-10 minutes until it starts bubbling suspiciously.
• Mix 3 cups flour and salt, add margarine, eggs, and yeast mix all at once. Stir until a very soft dough forms. Knead in last cup of flour a bit at a time until you have a soft dough that's not terribly sticky. Cover with a dish towel (or plastic wrap if going in fridge overnight) and leave in a warm place until double its size.
• In the meantime make the filling by stirring all filling ingredients together. If it's too stiff you can warm a bit, but it should not be a liquid.
• Roll out risen dough into a rectangle about the size and shape of a cookie sheet, around 1/4-12 inch thick. Spread with filling.
• Roll length-wise into a big jelly roll and cut into disks about an inch or 1 1/2 inches thick.
• Place in a lasagna pan so that when they double in size again they will be touching. This keeps them soft and gooey. Let rise.
• Either while they rise or while they bake, make the icing. Again you can warm a bit if it's too stiff, but it shouldn't be a liquid.
• Bake buns at 350°F for 20-30 minutes or until just starting to colour. They should not be too crispy or dried out.
• Cool, then ice in the pan. Cut apart carefully.
• They are best warm, so attack them now or reheat in the microwave later. "Flash freezing" means freezing in a single layer, usually uncovered, until just solid, then packaging for longer term storage.

ALMOST-FAMOUS CINNAMON BUNS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 100. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar (don't stir). Set aside until foamy, 5 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla.
• Whisk the flour, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until thick and slightly sticky. Knead on medium speed until the dough gathers around the hook, 6 minutes. (Add up to 2 more tablespoons flour if necessary.)
• Remove the dough and shape into a ball. Butter the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat with butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Roll out the dough, fill and cut into buns (see Cook's Note). Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; place the buns cut-side down in the pan, leaving space between each. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325.
• Bake the buns until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl, then whisk in the cream and melted butter. Transfer the buns to a rack and spoon the glaze on top while still warm.

CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• Tip all the ingredients for the dough, except the butter and golden syrup, into the bowl of a stand mixer with 1 tsp salt. Use a paddle attachment to combine everything until it begins to come together into a dough, then tip out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 2 mins. Put it back in the bowl and gradually add the softened butter, 1-2 tsp at a time, while mixing on a medium setting. Alternatively, knead the butter in by hand until smooth. Flatten the dough to a square roughly 20 x 20cm, then cover and freeze for 30 mins, or chill for at least 1 hr.
• Meanwhile, butter and line the base and sides of a deep baking tray, roughly 20 x 30cm. To make the filling, mix the sugar with the cinnamon and a large pinch of sea salt, then set aside 2 tbsp. Beat in the butter to form a thick paste.
• Lay the dough on a floured surface and roll to a neat rectangle roughly 35 x 25cm. Spread over the filling so it's completely covered. Fold the bottom third of the dough into the middle, then fold over again to cover the top third. For the best results, chill the dough again for another 30 mins.
• Re-roll the dough to another rectangle about 40 x 30cm, then roll it up along the long edge into a tight log. To get the neatest spirals, cut in half, lift onto a tray and freeze for 15 mins to firm up, then cut into 12 equal-sized slices. Arrange the slices, spiral side-up, in the tin. Leave to prove in fridge for at least 1 hr, or up to 24 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the buns for 20 mins, then scatter over the reserved cinnamon sugar and bake for 10-15 mins until deep brown.
• Meanwhile, mix the golden syrup with 2 tsp boiling water. As soon as the buns come out of the oven, brush them with the syrup glaze, then leave to cool a little. To make the icing, beat the soft cheese, icing sugar and vanilla together, then gradually add 1-2 tbsp boiling water to create a thick but pourable consistency. Drizzle the icing over the buns.

GIANT CINNAMON BUN

Steps:

• For the dough, gently heat the milk and butter until the butter has just melted. Leave to cool until just warm to the touch (it shouldn't be hot). Tip the flour into a large bowl with the yeast, cinnamon, sugar and a pinch of salt. Pour in the warm butter and milk mixture along with the egg, then combine with your hands until a dough forms. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead for about 10 mins until springy. Alternatively, you can do this in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook - the dough will only require about 5 mins of kneading using this method. Bring the dough together into a ball, then place in an oiled bowl. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for about 1 hr, or until doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, beat the filling ingredients with a small pinch of salt using an electric whisk until completely combined. Set aside. Butter a 20cm springform or loose-bottomed cake tin. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly to knock the air out. Leave to rest for a few minutes, then roll out to a 30 x 50cm rectangle, and lay it on the surface so the short edge is facing you. Spread over the filling so the dough rectangle is completely covered. Cut the dough into four strips down the length. Roll the first strip up into a tight spiral from the short end, then place the spiral at the short end of the second strip and roll this up into a spiral around the first. Place this larger spiral at the short end of the third strip and roll up again, then repeat with the final strip of dough. You should end up with one large cinnamon bun. Transfer to the prepared tin, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 45 mins-1 hr, or until it has risen by about a third.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the cake tin on a baking tray and bake for 50 mins-1 hr until puffed up, golden and cooked through. Meanwhile, combine the icing sugar, vanilla and 3 tbsp water until you have a loose icing that can be drizzled. Leave the bun to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove from the tin, drizzle with the icing and leave to cool completely on a wire rack. Serve in slices, or let everyone pull it apart. Will keep in an airtight container for two days.

UBC CINNAMON BUNS

Steps:

• Scald milk.
• Stir in 3 Tablespoons margarine, 3 Tablespoons sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons salt.
• Cool to lukewarm.
• Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water.
• Sprinkle yeast over warm water.
• Let stand in a warm place for 10 minutes.
• In large mixing bowl, combine lukewarm milk mixture and eggs.
• Stir in dissolved yeast.
• Add half the flour and beat well for 10 minutes.
• With a wooden spoon, gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead until smooth and elastic, adding additional flour as needed.
• Place in well greased bowl and roll dough over to grease the top.
• Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
• Punch down and turn out on lightly floured surface.
• Roll out into large rectangle (about 9" x 18").
• Make filling: combine 1/4 cup melted margarine, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 Tablespoon cinnamon.
• Sprinkle filling on dough.
• Roll dough up, starting from the long side.
• Cut into 2-inch slices.
• Place remaining melted margarine in bottom of pan. (I use two pyrex pans: one is 13 X 9, the other 8 x 8).
• Arrange slices in pan and cover loosely with greased waxed paper.
• Let rise in pan until doubled in size, between 45 to 60 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes.
• Remove from oven; turn pan upside down so the buns fall out.

CINNABONS - CINNAMON BUNS FROM HEAVEN

Steps:

• To prepare dough: In a cup, combine yeast, warm water and 1 tsp sugar, stir and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs; stir well and add yeast mixture.
• Add half the flour and beat until smooth.
• Stir in enough of the remaining flour until dough is slightly stiff (dough will be sticky).
• Turn out onto a well-floured board; knead 5-10 minutes.
• Place in well-buttered glass or plastic bowl, cover and let rise in warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• When doubled, punch down dough and let rest 5 minutes.
• Roll out on floured surface into a 15 x 20 inch rectangle.
• To prepare filling: Spread dough with 1/2 cup melted butter.
• Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over buttered dough.
• Sprinkle with walnuts and raisins, if desired.
• Roll up jellyroll-fashion and pinch edge together to seal.
• Cut into 12 slices.
• Coat bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and an 8-inch square pan with remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
• Place cinnamon roll slices close together in pans.
• Let rise in warm place until dough is doubled in bulk,about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until rolls are nicely browned.
• Cool rolls slightly.
• To prepare glaze: Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix melted butter, powdered sugar and vanilla; add hot water 1 Tbsp at a time until glaze reaches desired spreading consistency.
• Spread over slightly cooled rolls.
• These will taste most like the originals if you use Makara Cinnamon (available at the Cinnabon Stands) instead of conventional powdered cinnamon from the supermarket.