Breads, Rolls + Donuts Icing + Frosting Uncategorized

Giant Cinnamon Bun With Brown Butter Icing

giant cinnamon buns with brown butter icing | the vanilla bean blog
I apologize for the space in between posts. I’m sort of stumbling through life right now – my manuscript is due shortly, and I’ve been working on a few side projects as well that have kept me very busy. The second my littles get on the school bus until the moment they get home, I am baking, writing, testing, re-testing, panicking, reassuring myself, still panicking, photographing, typing, and panicking. Then it’s evenings filled with trying to pry ‘what happened at school today?’ out of two beings who just don’t want to talk about it, and then homework and dinner and reading and bed (for them), and then more baking and writing and the pitter patter of small feet up and down the stairs so many times with questions and comments and scary monsters and water needs. Somewhere in there I chat with my husband and we watch an episode of Seinfeld together while I  try to sort through my inbox (apologies, apologies, if you haven’t heard back from me!) and then I shuffle upstairs and find somehow it’s morning again already, and someone hit the ‘play’ button when all I wanted was to press ‘pause’.

These are not complaints, however. Life is always in flux, and I am working hard in this crazy time, knowing that in just under two months I will send in all my hard work and then joyfully crash.  I’ve already warned my family that they won’t see me in anything but pajamas for an entire week after my manuscript is turned in, and I plan on doing nothing during those beautiful seven days except read this entire series, which has been on my ‘must-read’ list for years.
giant cinnamon buns with brown butter icing | the vanilla bean blog

giant cinnamon buns with brown butter icing | the vanilla bean blog
I’m sure however, that I will bake something during my all-inclusive vacation (all the coffee I can drink in the comfort of my own home sounds just fine at this point), and I wouldn’t mind waking up to a gigantic cinnamon bun some chilly morning in the near future. This swirly masterpiece is from Sarah Coates new book ‘The Sugar Hit‘. I’ve been a fan for awhile of Sarah’s fun and sassy approach to baking, and her book does not disappoint: ‘Think of me as your cheeky younger sister. I’m not a responsible older sibling who’s going to teach you how to apply lip-liner correctly, or explain why you should eat kale salad…I’m still working on those adult skills myself. What I have got worked out, though, is the short-cut route to the best, sexiest and tastiest sweet things for those days when it’s time to cut loose and enjoy yourself.’ (Sarah Coates) Perfect.

giant cinnamon buns with brown butter icing | the vanilla bean blog

Giant Cinnamon Bun With Brown Butter Icing
adapted from The Sugar Hit

After making Bread in 5’s brioche on a regular basis, I find I’m used to working with a slightly sticker dough, so I ended up adding a little more liquid to this recipe than called for. After combining the dough ingredients in the stand mixer, I added about 1/3 cup of water (a few tablespoons at a time, until the dough was sticky but didn’t stick to the sides of the mixer when mixing on low) which made my dough a little ‘looser’, and it baked up soft and light.

Dough:
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon | 75g unsalted butter
3/4 cup | 190 ML whole milk
3 cups | 450g bread flour
1/4 cup | 55g granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dry active yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
1/4-1/2 cup water (see note)

Filling:
1 ounce unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup |115g firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt

To make the dough, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, add the milk, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly. Put the remaining dough ingredients and the slightly cooled milk and butter mixture in a large bowl (or the bowl of your stand-up mixer) and stir to bring the mixture together (see note about adding water at this point). On a floured work surface (or using a stand-up mixer with the dough hook), knead until a smooth, elastic and ever-so-slightly tacky dough forms, about 5 minutes. Put the dough back in the bowl (or keep it in the bowl of the stand-up mixer) and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place to rise for 30 to 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.

While the dough is rising, grease and line a 9-inch round springform pan. When the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface again. Roll the dough out into a 12-inch square. Stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Spread the melted butter over the dough and evenly sprinkle over the brown sugar mixture.

Slice the dough lengthwise into 6 equal strips (perfectly even strips will make a perfectly even cinnamon roll). Roll the first strip up in a spiral, just like a regular cinnamon roll. Place the rolled cinnamon roll on the edge of the next strip and roll that strip around the cinnamon roll, until all the strips are rolled around and you have one giant swirly bun.

Move the bun over to the greased pan, and cover gently with plastic wrap. Set aside for about 45 minutes to rise.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. When the bun has risen, remove the plastic wrap and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden, risen and cooked through. Remove the bun from the tin and leave to cool just until warm. Cover the bun with icing (recipe follows).

Brown Butter Icing:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) | 113g unsalted butter
2 ounces |57g cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
1 cup |114g powdered sugar

To brown the butter: Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Swirl the butter around until it starts to brown — it will smell nutty and you’ll see little brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat, pour the brown butter and bits into a freezer-safe bowl, and let cool for 10 minutes. When the butter is partially cool, place the bowl in the freezer and let the butter chill until solid, about 30 minutes (you can also put it in the fridge to cool down, but it will take a bit longer). When the butter is solid (but not frozen!), take it out and place it in the bowl of a standing mixer.

Add the cream cheese to the browned butter, and beat on high until smooth and creamy, 3-5 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt, and beat again until incorporated. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low until combined, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is creamy.
The Sugar Hit Cookbook

  • Reply
    Erin
    Monday, January 9, 2017 at 2:31 pm

    I’d love to make this for my boyfriends birthday…but we’ve got a car trip to a cabin to account for…..could I make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze, and then bake fresh for his birthday morning at the cabin? This thing is sooo beautiful! Can’t wait to attempt.

  • Reply
    Sally
    Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    ack! making this now and it says to add salt to the filling, but no salt is listed in the ingredient list…

    also, what kind of salt for the dough? I used fine sea salt, because that’s what I use for baking, but wondered if it was too much? Thanks!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 11:01 pm

      Sally! I’m sorry the salt is missing. It’s just a pinch of salt, so it won’t make a big difference if the filling doesn’t have it. And, I used table salt in this recipe; fine sea salt should work just fine. I know my comment is probably too late to help – I hope it works out for you!

  • Reply
    Sally
    Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    Hi – I’d like to make this for Xmas morning – could I make the dough the night before, and leave it in the fridge in the greased pan? What would you recommend? THANK YOU!

  • Reply
    tara
    Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    I’m bookmarking recipes today for holidays (I know, I know), and I had to come back to this. It would be so beautiful all wrapped up as a present come winter. Really lovely, Sarah.

  • Reply
    zonderzooi
    Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 7:16 am

    Oh wow, this looks sooooo delicious! Like a little piece of art, great.

  • Reply
    Rachel @ The Castejóns
    Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    This is my next challenge- cinnamon buns! Or I could just drool over these all day…

  • Reply
    Jennifer
    Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    It looks too beautiful to eat!

    … Who am I kidding, I’d eat that thing all day long 🙂

  • Reply
    Vessiana
    Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Wow, I must try this bun, it looks like very yummy and I’m sure is very delicious. Also, it is very beautiful and that is so important. Thanks for the recipe 🙂

  • Reply
    Heidi Kokborg
    Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    This looks so beautiful!

  • Reply
    Janelle | SucroseAndSpice.com
    Monday, October 12, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    You may have done the only possible thing to improve a cinnamon roll–make it giant. I want one!

  • Reply
    Holly Kettle
    Monday, October 12, 2015 at 11:19 am

    These look incredible! x

  • Reply
    *Kate
    Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    Sarah – You are beautiful. Your blog is beautiful. Your food is beautiful. I’m so proud of you!

  • Reply
    Dani
    Friday, October 9, 2015 at 7:31 am

    Omg this bun looks like the bee’s knees. Color me inspired.

    <3 Dani
    http://www.hauteinparadise.com

  • Reply
    Jessica Robinson
    Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Sarah, that sounds exactly like my days. When do we have time for household duties? I remember we moved from Connecticut to North Carolina last summer. My manuscript was due July 1st. Photos due July 15th. We moved July 1st. It was a juggling act to get everything together, unpack a house (to find my kitchen goods!) and keep kids entertained. I feel your frustration and crazy life!

  • Reply
    Allyson
    Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 11:15 am

    That cinnamon roll looks like the bomb dot com. Best of luck on finishing your manuscript- it sounds like you will have well earned a pajama week.

  • Reply
    Kaitlin
    Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 11:29 am

    Oooh heaven! This looks divine. I so need to get my hands on her book!

    I am excited for you and your upcoming at-home vacation – you deserve it! 🙂

  • Reply
    Brian @ A Thought For Food
    Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 10:15 am

    I’m amazed that you’re getting any posts out at all. Can’t imagine how busy you’ve been.

    This cinnamon bun… I mean, wow. You have me drooling like crazy here. And I’m not even that into sweets for breakfast.

  • Reply
    Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect
    Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 3:10 am

    This looks so tasty! I love cinnamon and a giant bun/cake like this is just divine. I think I could manage a slice for breakfast, brunch and lunch 🙂 As long as I had lots of coffee on tap like your pictures.

    Great pictures and good luck with your manuscript.

  • Reply
    Franziska Glauser
    Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 1:51 am

    Oh dear, this giant cinnamon bun looks fantastic. Could I have it for breakfast? Have a wonderful day…
    Sending you my warmest wishes from Switzerland, Franzi

  • Reply
    Sarah // The Sugar Hit
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    Such a beautiful post! Thank you so much for sharing this. And I’m feeling your pain on the manuscript – you can do it! Just keep swimming, yo!

  • Reply
    Thalia @ butter and brioche
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    This was actually the first recipe that I made out of Sarah’s book.. and it definitely did not disappoint. Just divine Xx

  • Reply
    Claudia | The Brick Kitchen
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    A giant buttery, cinnamony scroll like this with coffee sounds like the perfect morning tea – and ideal for a lazy morning(s) in your break after turning in your manuscript. Good luck for the next 2 months before then – it sounds hectic but fun all at once, and at least you are doing what you love! Can’t wait to see the finished product <3

  • Reply
    Chelsea@TableForOne
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    Enjoy this ride of a life! You can get through these busy times and then just rest….also those cinnamon rolls. I am swooning!!

  • Reply
    Sabrina
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    Oh, how I wish I could just sneak a tiny bite of this beauty right now! Or a whole slice, or maybe the whole thing to bring me theough the first weeks at uni – looks to good and I can’t wait for the weekend and a lazy afternoon of baking to calm down and enjoy this cinnamon goodness!! Maybe I’ll try it with my whole wheat yeast dough and add some of the neighbour’s apples to the filling for an autumn twist.. 🙂

  • Reply
    Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    My 5-year-old is going through an I-am-scared-of-monsters phase too. So I feel your pain.
    Good luck with your book, it all sounds super exciting and thanks for sharing this looker of a cinnamon bun. GORGEOUS!

  • Reply
    Mallory
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    Oh dear heavens does this look amazing…and good luck in the home stretch here…you can do it!!

  • Reply
    Heather (Delicious Not Gorgeous)
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    yesterday was some massive cinnamon roll celebration (i saw all these posts on ig) and i was dying because i wanted homemade cinnamon rolls, too.

    good luck on your manuscript! i can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on! and speaking from personal experience, that afterschool grumbling and non-answering might not cease until college (i talk to my mom so much more that i’m gone rather than when i was at home).

  • Reply
    Melissa@Julia's Bookbag
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:31 am

    oh Sarah! the entire Jeeves series in pajamas! Can I do that over on the West Coast? I would SO love to! a giant cinnamon bun. I think I need this book! And of course, I’m just oh so patiently waiting for the day when yours drops into my lap…..#happyday

  • Reply
    Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
    Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:02 am

    A big brioche bun sounds pretty incredible to me! And that glaze?!? Awesome.

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