"Sticky buns"

I've never made any buns or rolls in my life before. So I thought I'll give it a shot!

PS! The ingredients list is long but most of the things you'll probably find in your cupboard anyway and the result is totally worth it!

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 1 package dry yeast (11g)
• ¼ cup water, warmed up to 40 °C
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ¾ cup (full fat) milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• 4 cups of flour

For the filling:

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into small little pieces

For the glaze:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp light sugar syrup
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup nuts (almonds, pecans etc.) (optional)

Method:

1. In a small bowl, combine the warm water and 1 tsp of the granulated sugar, sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
   
   



2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the egg, milk, salt, sugar and melted butter. Add 2 cups of the flour and the water, vanilla and yeast mixture, mix until its all incorporated and slowly add about 2 more cups of flour. Turn the speed up to medium and let it mix for about 5 to 7 minutes or until you have a smooth dough.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Pull the dough together with your hands to form a ball. Pour a little vegetable oil on top and grease the ball with your hand so that it won't stick to the bowl when rising. Cover with plastic wrap and place it in a warm spot to rise for about 1,5-2 hours.
   
   
   
   
4. Now for the glaze: In a saucepan, add the butter, cream, brown sugar and light sugar syrup and let it cook and melt together just long enough for the sugar to be dissolved. Turn the heat off, stir in the vanilla and let it sit and cool for a bit. 
   
   
   
   
5. Once cool a bit, pour it in the bottom of a well buttered (big) baking dish/tray and sprinkle the chopped nuts over the top. Set aside. 
   
   
   
6. For the filling: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon, set aside for a few minutes.
7. When the dough ball has doubled in size, punch it down and roll out onto a floured surface into a  rectangle, the size of your baking dish/tray. Brush the butter over the top and sprinkle evenly over the chopped apples and sugar and cinnamon mixture.
   
   
   
8.  Staring from one of the long ends, tightly roll the dough into a jelly roll form.
   
   
   
   
9.  Cut into 14 to 16 slices (make sure they are even) and place them cut side down in your baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap and put them back into a warm spot to rise for another 30 minutes.
   
   
   
10. Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
11. Cover the pan lightly with foil and bake them for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake them an additional 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Allow the rolls to cool for only 5 minutes in the baking dish and then carefully invert them on a large platter.
    
    
    
12.  Wait for a bit for them to cool down and dig right in!

Review: It was very delicious. Quite sweet, nice with a cup of milk! I didn't put any nuts at first but after tasting the first roll, I found that it lacks in crunchiness, so I sprinkled some almonds on top and it was PERFECTION!