Ultimate Cinnamon Buns

Cook’s Illustrated Holiday Baking – Winter 2010

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 3/4 cup whole milk, heated to 110 degrees
• 1 envelope (2 1/4 teas) rapid-rise yeast or instant yeast
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 4 1/4 cups (21 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teas table salt
• 12 tbs (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces and softened

For the Filling:

• 1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tbs ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teas table salt
• 4 tbs (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

For the Glaze:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbs whole milk
• 1 teas vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) confectioners sugar

Preparation:

Note: If the dough is still wet and sticky after mixing for 10 minutes in step 2, add up to 1/4 cup flour (a tbs at a time) until the dough releases from the bowl. For smaller cinnamon buns, cut the dough into 12 pieces in step 3. The buns can be made ahead of time; After transferring the pieces to the prepared pan in step 3, the buns can be covered tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, let the buns sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Remove the plastic wrap and continue with the recipe from step 4 as directed.

For the dough: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, shut off. Line 13×9 inch baking pan with foil, allowing excess foil to hang over pan edges. Spray foil and medium bowl with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk milk and yeast in liquid measuring cup until yeast dissolves, then whisk in eggs. In bowl, of stand mixer fitter with dough hook, mix flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt until combined. With mixer on low, add warm milk mixture in steady stream and mix until dough comes together, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and add butter, one piece at a time, until incorporated. Continue to mix until dough is smooth and comes away from sides of bowl, about 10 minutes. Turn dough out onto clean surface and knead to form smooth, round ball. Transfer dough to prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in warm oven. Let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

For the Filling: Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Roll dough into an 18-inch square, spread with butter, and sprinkle evenly with filling. Starting with the edge nearest you, roll dough into tight cylinder, pinch lightly to seal seam, and cut into 8 pieces. Transfer pieces, cut side up, to prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

For the glaze and to bake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk cream cheese, milk vanilla and confectioners’ sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Discard plastic wrap and bake buns until deep golden brown and filling is melted, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and top buns with 1/2 cup glaze; cool 30 minutes. Using foil overhang, lift buns from pan and top with remaining glaze. Serve.