The Best Cinnamon Buns
Ingredients
- ½ cwarm water)
(between 105 110°f is best
- 2 ½ tspactive dry yeast
- ½ cmilk
- ¼ cunsalted butter
- ¼ cgranulated sugar)
(50g
- 1 tspsalt
- 1 largeegg)
(room temperature
- 3 call-purpose flour)
(about 500g
- ½ cheavy whipping cream
- ½ cgolden corn syrup
- ½ cbrown sugar)
(85g
- 2 tbspunsalted butter
- ¼ cunsalted butter
room temperature
- ¾ cbrown sugar)
(128g
- 2 tspground cinnamon
- ¼ ccream cheese
), room temperature (2oz or ¼ package
- 2 tbspunsalted butter
room temperature
- ½ cpowdered sugar
- 1 tspvanilla extract
Directions
Cinnamon bun dough
- 1
Dissolve the yeast in the water and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes, until frothy.
- 2
In a medium bowl, combine the milk, butter, sugar, and salt and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Whisk until the butter is melted. Set aside until it is lukewarm in temperature.
- 3
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or you can mix and knead by hand), combine the milk mixture and yeast mixture. Stir in the egg.
- 4
With the mixer on low speed and the dough hook on, gradually add in just enough flour so that a soft dough ball forms. (It should slightly tacky, but not sticky.)
- 5
Drizzle some oil in a large bowl. Place the dough ball in the bowl, and turn so that the dough is lightly coated in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel if desired. Let sit in a warm, draft-free place for 1½ hours, or until doubled in size. (The inside of the microwave or the oven with the light on are great options!)
Grandma’s caramel sauce
- 1
Just before your dough is ready to roll, make the sauce.
- 2
In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, and butter. Heat over medium-high heat, until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- 3
Spray a 9×13″ pan with nonstick spray and pour the sauce into the bottom. Set aside.
Cinnamon bun filling
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- 2
Once the dough has risen, remove from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 14″ by 18″ rectangle.
- 3
Spread the butter over the dough and sprinkle it evenly with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- 4
Roll the rectangle up tightly, starting at the long end. Pinch the dough together to form a seam at the end.
- 5
Trim the ends and slice the roll in half. Slice each half in half, so you have 4 equal pieces. Cut each piece into 3 equal sections so you have 12 buns. Place in the prepared pan on top of the sauce.
- 6
Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel or piece of plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place, until doubled, about 1 hour.
- 7
Bake at 350°F for 22 to 26 minutes, until light golden brown on top.
- 8
If desired, turn out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let the caramel sauce run down into the buns. (If you are frosting them, I recommend leaving the gooey sauce at the bottom.)
Cream cheese frosting
- 1
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
- 2
Add the sugar and vanilla and beat until combined and fluffy. If desired, add a touch more sugar for a thicker frosting.
- 3
Spread the frosting over the cinnamon buns. Serve warm.
The Best Cinnamon Buns
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About this Recipe
Craving the ultimate comfort of a warm, gooey cinnamon bun that truly feels homemade? This recipe for The Best Cinnamon Buns delivers exactly that, promising soft, fluffy spirals bathed in a decadent caramel sauce, right in your home kitchen.
The secret to these truly exceptional cinnamon buns lies in two key elements: an incredibly tender dough and that irresistible gooey caramel layer baked right into the bottom of the pan. Unlike dry, overly sweet versions, these are designed for maximum indulgence and pure comfort, offering a make-ahead and freezer-friendly solution for your baking needs.
Prepare for a truly blissful experience. You'll bite into an impossibly soft and fluffy dough, generously swirled with a fragrant cinnamon-brown sugar filling. The real showstopper is the rich, amber caramel sauce that pools at the bottom of the pan, soaking into the buns and adding incredible moisture and deep flavor. Topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting, each bite is a perfect balance of sweet and spice, making these the best cinnamon rolls you'll ever bake.
While these buns are perfect as is, you can explore adding chopped pecans or walnuts to the cinnamon filling for an extra textural layer. For a simpler glaze, you might omit the cream cheese frosting and dust with powdered sugar, though the tang of the cream cheese truly balances the sweetness. This recipe centers around classic ingredients, but adventurous bakers might experiment with a touch of cardamom in the spice mix for a unique twist. Ensure you use golden corn syrup for that perfectly gooey caramel finish.
These luxurious cinnamon buns are ideal for a special breakfast, a decadent brunch spread, or as a comforting treat with your afternoon coffee. Serve them warm, inverted from the pan to let that glorious caramel drizzle over every roll, perhaps alongside a strong cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk.