Cardamom Buns

Directions

• 1

  Make the dough: Heat milk on high to 105F in a medium saucepan. 

• 2

  Add milk & yeast to a stand mixer with dough hook and let sit for 3 minutes. 

• 3

  Add flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon cardamom, and ¾ teaspoon salt to the mixer; mix on medium-low, until just combined and beginning to form a dough, about 2 minutes. 

• 4

  Turn mixer to medium and continue to knead until just smooth and tacky, about 4 minutes. 

• 5

  Add 6 tablespoons softened butter; mix until smooth and shiny, about 4 minutes. 

• 6

  Transfer from bowl and add to an oiled bowl; cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap let sit at room temperature (in a warm place), until doubled in size. 

• 7

  Meanwhile, make the filling: In the same bowl of the stand mixer with paddle attachment on medium-low, beat 16 tablespoons butter, 1 ¼ cups sugar, 2 tablespoons cardamom, vanilla and ¼ teaspoon salt, until just combined, about 3 minutes. 

• 8

  Assembly: Remove the dough from the bowl and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. 

• 9

  Roll dough out to 15 x18 inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. 

• 10

  Spread the butter mixture over the surface of the dough. 

• 11

  With the short side facing you, fold the top 1/3 of dough down over the middle third, then the bottom third up to cover the remaining dough.  Roll the dough with a rolling pin to flatten edges to avoid filling oozing out and to roll to ensure it’s 12 x 16-inch rectangle. 

• 12

  Trim edges with a paring knife or pastry cutter.  Cut the dough into 16-1-inch strips. 

• 13

  Take each strip, starting from the end, wrap around the tips of your index and middle fingers, wrap 2-3 times around and secure the remaining end to the strand through the center of the bun and hidden at bottom. 

• 14

  Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment and place the buns on it, spacing evenly apart, about 8 buns per pan. 

• 15

  Cover lightly with plastic wrap and proof at room temperature, until almost doubled, about 1 hour.

• 16

  Meanwhile, preheat oven 450F.

• 17

  Make the topping: Whisk egg yolk and water in a small bowl and brush over the buns and sprinkle pearl sugar on top. 

• 18

  Place in preheat oven and immediately turn down to 375F, 1 tray at a time, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. 

• 19

  Remove from oven and let buns cool on the baking sheet until slightly cool, about 10 minutes.