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Prep time
3 hours
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Cook time
25 minutes
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makes
13
Author Notes
Gingerbread meets cinnamon buns: That was the premise for this recipe. I wanted to incorporate the classic gingerbread flavors in a soft, gooey, and delicate bun. Here, we are working with an enriched dough as our base; a buttery spiced filling full of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; and last but not least, subtle hits of orange in the dough and in the icing that will take this bun to the next level.
Just like any other homemade pastry, these will be best served fresh. You can let the dough rest in the fridge overnight for the first proof, and shape and bake the buns the next day. There is nothing like a steaming-hot bun fresh out of the oven paired with a warm cup of coffee or tea, is there?! Top this scenery off with a beautiful snowfall and you’ve got yourself the perfect winter morning. —Carolina Gelen
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Ingredients
- For the dough
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2/3 cup
plus 1 tablespoon lukewarm whole milk
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2 1/4 teaspoons
active or instant dry yeast
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5 tablespoons
unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing
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1/3 cup
granulated sugar
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1
whole egg plus 1 yolk
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1 teaspoon
pure vanilla extract
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1/2 teaspoon
fine salt
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3 to 3 1/3 cups
all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- For the filling and icing
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1 tablespoon
ground cinnamon
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1 1/4 teaspoons
ground ginger
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1 teaspoon
ground cardamom, or 6 whole pods, freshly ground
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1 teaspoon
orange zest
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1/2 teaspoon
grated nutmeg
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1/4 teaspoon
ground cloves, or 4 to 6 whole cloves, freshly ground
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2/3 cup
brown sugar
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9 tablespoons
room temperature butter
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1/3 cup
granulated sugar
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3/4 cup
powdered sugar (for icing)
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2 tablespoons
orange juice (for icing)
Directions
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Prepare the dough: Combine the lukewarm milk and yeast in a bowl, then let the yeast bloom for 2 to 3 minutes until foamy. Add in the sugar, whole egg, yolk, vanilla extract, and melted butter and whisk everything together until combined. Add 3 cups of flour and the salt to the liquid mixture and roughly mix everything with a wooden spoon.
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Dump the dough onto your work surface and start kneading. The dough should feel slightly sticky in the beginning, but it will become less sticky the more you knead it. If necessary, add the remaining 1/3 cup of flour and keep kneading until the dough looks completely smooth, for about 5-10 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover it and let it proof in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
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Prepare the filing: Combine all the ingredients for the filling in a bowl and mix them with a spatula until everything is completely incorporated. I suggest using freshly ground spices for a better flavor.
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Once the dough is done proofing, lightly dust your work surface with some more flour and roll out the dough into a 39 cm x 43 cm or 15 inch x 16 inch rectangle; it should be about 1/3-1/4 inch or 5 to 6 mm thick. Evenly spread the spiced sugar mixture all over the dough using a spatula. Start rolling the dough tightly from the longer side closest to you.
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Next, divide the roll of dough in 12-13 pieces, using a sharp knife or a long piece of thread or dental floss. The second method will give you the best result in my opinion. Simply slide the thread or floss under the dough, then cross the two ends over the top of the dough and pull them in opposite direction wherever you want to make that cut.
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Arrange the buns in a buttered round 9 inch (25 cm) diameter pan and let them proof in a warm spot, covered, for 30 minutes.
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In the meantime, preheat the oven to 375°F or 190°C.
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Bake the buns for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top, then take them out and let them cool for a few minutes.
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Combine the powdered sugar and orange juice and mix everything until combined. Drizzle the icing all over the buns and serve them right away. They are best served fresh!
Carolina is a resident at Food52. She's also one of the hosts of Choose Your Own Recipe Adventure, our YouTube show where our Food52 readers pick the ingredients and techniques for a brand new recipe. Carolina recently immigrated to the U.S. from Transylvania, a place she spent most of her life. She continues to get inspired by the classic Romanian and Hungarian foods she was raised on, creating approachable, colorful, and fun recipes. For more cooking ideas and candid moments, check out her Instagram @carolinagelen.
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