CARDAMOM BUNS NEAR ME RECIPES

Steps:

• For the dough:Warm the milk to 110°F. Sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to proof for 5 minutes.Place the remaining dough ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer. Pour the proofed yeast mixture on top. Briefly stir with a spatula to form a shaggy dough. Attach to the base of the stand mixer and fit with the dough hook. Knead for 15 minutes on medium-low (I used speed 2 out of 10).Transfer dough to a large, buttered bowl. Cover and allow to rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.For the filling:When the dough is nearly done rising, beat the butter, sugar, and cardamom together in a small bowl with a hand mixer until well mixed.On a well-buttered surface, gently roll the risen dough out to a 14x20-inch rectangle. Dab the filling evenly over the surface of the dough and spread out evenly with an offset spatula.Grabbing a short end, fold 1/3 of the dough over itself towards the middle, then the other 1/3 (like folding a letter). Roll the dough out again to a 10x14-inch rectangle. Cut the dough into 3/4-inch strips, starting at a folded edge. Cut a strip in half along the length of it, leaving a bit of dough still attached at one end. Twist both "legs" of dough in one direction, then twist the legs around themselves in the opposite direction. Coil the twisted dough around itself in a circle, tucking the end underneath to keep it in place. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough strips, making sure to leave plenty of space between the buns on the baking sheet. You'll most likely need to use two baking sheets.Cover the buns with a tea towel and allow to rise in a warm spot until quite puffy, about 1½ to 2 more hours (check them at one hour if your kitchen is warm). Twenty minutes before the buns are done rising, preheat oven to 425°F. Bake the risen buns for 15–20 minutes, or until deep golden on top, dark brown on the bottom, and cooked through. You can check doneness with an instant read thermometer (the buns should register 200°F).For the topping:While the buns are baking, make the topping. Place the water, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Brush over the hot cardamom buns. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and brush them again. Repeat once more. Sprinkle the buns with the ground cardamom.Serve buns warm. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days (if they last that long).

Steps:

• Whisk yeast, 1 cup warm milk, and 1 tsp. honey in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment to combine, then let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add egg whites, 2 cups bread flour, and remaining 1/4 cup honey and beat with paddle on medium-high speed until mixture is very light and thick, about 3 minutes. Remove paddle, scrape mixture back into bottom of bowl, and sprinkle whole wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups bread flour over top (do not stir). Place bowl in a warm spot and let sit uncovered until mixture is bubbling up around flour, 30–40 minutes.
• Add salt, orange zest (if using), vanilla extract, 5 egg yolks, and remaining 1/4 cup cold milk to mixture and mix with dough hook on low speed until a shaggy dough forms. Increase speed to medium and work dough until it is smooth, soft, and elastic and climbing up the hook, 8–10 minutes (it will clear the sides of the bowl but still stick slightly to the bottom; if after 5 minutes the dough is still very sticky, add bread flour a tablespoonful at a time until dough is just tacky). Reduce mixer speed to medium-low and add butter pieces one at a time, letting dough absorb butter completely before adding the next piece. This part takes a while, so be patient. Dough should be very smooth and slightly tacky and have a soft, buoyant texture. Cover and chill at least 8 hours and up to 16 hours.
• Cook brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, 1/4 cup honey, and 8 Tbsp. butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, just until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Let cool.
• Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half, place 1 piece back into bowl, cover, and chill while you work. Roll out remaining piece of dough on a sheet of lightly floured parchment paper to roughly a 16x12" rectangle. Spread half of brown sugar mixture over dough. Starting at side closest to you (make sure it’s a long side) and using the parchment paper to help you, roll dough into a tight log. If dough gets too warm or sticky to work with, slide (with parchment) onto a baking sheet and chill until firm, then proceed. Place log, seam side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Chill until firm, 20–30 minutes.
• Repeat process with second half of dough and remaining brown sugar mixture. Spray cups of two 12-cup muffin pans with nonstick spray. Place a rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F.
• Trim chilled dough logs about 1/2" from ends and cut each on a slight diagonal into 12 equal pieces. Place, cut side up, in prepared muffin pan and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let sit at room temperature until puffed and expanded to edges of muffin cups (dough will spring back when poked but hold a slight indentation), 25–35 minutes.
• Bake buns, rotating pans once left to right and front to back, until golden brown all over, 20–25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 4 Tbsp. butter and remaining 1/4 cup honey in a small saucepan over low, stirring a bit, until smooth. Remove from heat.
• Pull buns out of oven and brush tops with butter mixture; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Transfer buns to a wire rack (if sugar cools in pan, it will harden and buns will stick); let cool.