I admit this recipe intimidated me and I put it off for a long time. They are easier than you think and simply irresistible. But if you’ve never made them they are a MUST TRY! Crispy outer layers, soft buttery inner layers of pastry dough stuffed with a cinnamon orange filling. This Morning Buns recipe is made ahead and refrigerated overnight so it’s great for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning, or any morning. Try our Bread Pudding!
Morning Buns
This method from America’s Test Kitchen makes the “puff pastry” or croissant dough much easier to prepare. I have made croissants from scratch before and they are very labor (not to mention muscle building) intensive. This method is the way to go. No need for a stand mixer! Slice the unsalted butter into 1/4″ pieces, refrigerate to keep cold while you mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large zip-top bag. Seal the bag and shake to mix the ingredients. Add the butter slices into the bag, seal again, shake to cover the butter with flour, and roll over the bag with a rolling pin. Shake the bag between rolls until the butter becomes large flakes. Empty the contents into a large bowl, stir in the sour cream, fresh orange juice, ice water, and egg yolk until combined. Turn the dough out onto a large lightly floured surface, knead the dough into a cohesive ball. Roll the dough into a 20″x12″ rectangle. Starting at the short end, roll the dough into a tight cylinder. Pat/roll the cylinder into a 12″x4″ rectangle. Place the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes. In a medium bowl, stir together the sugars, orange zest, cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla extract. After freezing, roll the dough out to a 20″x12″ rectangle again, sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon mixture. Lightly press the filling into the dough. Starting with the long side, roll the dough up into a tight cylinder again, pinch the edge to seal. Trim the rough ends off. Cut in the 20″ cylinder in half, cut each 10″ half into 1 1/2″ equal pieces, totaling 12 rolls. (I hope that makes sense.) Place each piece cut side down in a buttered muffin tin. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, preheat the oven to about 125º F, remove the buns from the fridge, discard plastic wrap. Turn the oven off, place the morning buns in the oven to proof for 30 minutes until doubled in size. Once doubled remove them from the oven and increase the temperature to 425º F. Bake the buns for 5 minutes, reduce the temperature to 325ºF and continue baking for 40-45 minutes until they are a deep golden brown color. Check out our Cinnamon Rolls recipe! Remove from the oven, cool for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and roll in superfine granulated sugar. Let cool on a wire rack. Just look at those lovely peel apart layers. Serve and enjoy these light, flaky, crispy, buttery, and delicate Morning Buns! So good you won’t be able to resist a second helping. Also, try our Easy One-Hour Orange Rolls!
Morning Buns Recipe
Recipe from BrownEyedBaker
