Overnight Cinnamon Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Breakfast time is the part of my birthday that I look forward to the most. I almost always end up awake before everyone else (which is predictable when you wake up at 6am every morning anyway), and I like to take a little second with just me before everyone else gets up.

This year I popped out for a quick walk on the beach, then woke Rich up and made him come for a walk into Montauk Town to buy a rolling pin, because cinnamon rolls were the first order of the day. An hour later the house was filled with the amazing smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, which I loaded up with cream cheese frosting as soon as they came out of the oven. We ate them straight out of the tray, as soon as they were cool enough to touch. It was an awesome start to what would be an epic birthday. 

The best part about these rolls were that the dough was made the night before and left to rise in the fridge overnight, meaning that the working time in the morning was kept to a minimum. The house we were staying at didn't have a mixer, so I mixed these by hand - it took a little longer, but still worked just as well! Once they had gone to bed with the rest of us, the next morning I rolled them out, then I filled them with a simple mix, melted butter, cinnamon sugar, and a solid dose of pecans. They then have a quick rest in the pan while the oven is preheating, before being baked until they are golden brown. Total time from waking up to cinnamon rolls in your belly is only about an hour and a half. More than ideal. The dough is light and fluffy, the filling sweet and flavoursome, with a little crunch from the pecans, and the cream cheese frosting can't be skipped. 

A few wee notes:

• I used an overnight brioche recipe here, but if you really can't wait and you need cinnamon buns immediately, you can use this dough recipe here (which does make more, so increase your pan size a little)

• A stand mixer comes in handy, but you absolutely don't need one, plus you get a solid arm workout to boot

• Leave out the pecans if that isn't your jam.

• The frosting makes enough for a generous layer, and it is quite sweet, so feel free to cut back a little on it if you don't want it as intense (it's good though, you should keep it all on there)

 

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Overnight Cinnamon Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting

- Makes about 8 -

Brioche dough adapted slightly from The Brick Kitchen

Brioche Dough
1 cup (250ml) whole milk, lukewarm
1/4 cup (50g) sugar, divided
1 1/2 tsp active dried yeast
1 stick (113g) unsalted butter
500g (17.6oz) bread flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Filling
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (250g) brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 Tbsp Cinnamon
1 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped

Egg wash - 1 egg whisked with 1 Tbsp water

Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups (250g) powdered sugar, sifted
1 8oz (200g) package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla bean paste

 

- PROCESS -

BRIOCHE DOUGH

Place the warm milk, 2 Tbsp sugar, and yeast in a small bowl and whisk briefly to combine. Leave to stand for 5-10 minutes or until foamy. Meanwhile, melt the butter either in increments in the microwave, or in a small pot. Set aside to cool.

Place the flour, remaining 2 Tbsp sugar, salt, and vanilla bean paste in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix briefly to combine. Add the milk and yeast mixture, melted cooled butter, and the eggs. Mix 8-10 minutes on low speed, until it becomes smooth and glossy, and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. If you are doing this by hand, mix vigorously with a wooden spoon for 10-12 minutes, or until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The mixture will be very wet, but do not worry!

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge to prove overnight.

FILLING AND ASSEMBLY

The next day, preheat the oven to 350˚f / 180˚c. Line a 9" or 10" springform pan with parchment paper. Melt the butter, and set aside to cool slightly. Combine the brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and roll into a rectangle 16" x 24" (40cm x 60cm), flipping once or twice and lightly dusting with more flour as needed. Place with the long side facing you. 

Brush the surface of the dough all over with the melted butter, then evenly sprinkle the brown sugar cinnamon mixture over the dough, patting down with your hands to make sure that it sticks. Sprinkle the pecans over the sugar mixture, then drizzle the remaining butter over evenly. 

Starting with the long side of the dough, roll up into a tight spiral log. Using a serrated knife, cut into 8 evenly sized pieces, and arrange in the prepared tin. 

Cover the buns lightly with plastic wrap and allow them to sit in a warm place while the oven finishes preheating - about 15 minutes, or until slightly puffy. 

Brush the surface of the buns all over with egg wash. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown, and the middle bun is holding up on its own. While the buns are baking, make the frosting.

Remove from the oven and stand for 10 minutes before frosting with the cream cheese frosting.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Place the powdered sugar and cream cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or into a large bowl. Beat on high for 1-2 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and beat well until combined. Spread generously over the warm rolls.

Serve immediately. Leftovers are best served warmed slightly in the microwave before eating.

 

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