Tuesday 15 May 2012

Orange Cinnamon Sticky Buns : "TWD : Baking with Julia"

I used every excuse I could, to give this Tuesday's Julia Child recipe a miss... from "the weather's just too hot" to "I don't have a stand mixer" to "am not sure I even like the idea of sticky buns" to my favourite..the one that I kept hanging onto.. "this recipe uses just too much butter.. yikes!!!" And am I glad I did not listen to myself and went ahead with this week's Pecan Sticky Buns for our fortnightly bake-together.

The main factor in getting me to go ahead with the recipe was the fact that we would be trying our hand at a new bread dough, specifically, the brioche dough. One of the main reasons I signed up for this group was to push myself as a baker with new recipes and techniques. This recipe promised all of that!!


This recipe is for the enthusiastic baker and definitely NOT for those short on time or those who are counting their calories!! The recipe starts off with making the brioche dough and then the dough is folded and rolled into buns and baked. The recipe stipulates the use of a stand mixer that kneads the dough for 15 minutes before you attain the required consistency.

Me, being me, of course, did not have a stand mixer and bravely decided to make the dough by hand. And while my wrist bore the brunt with all that kneading, I must confess that it was not as bad as I thought it would be!! It did help that I was making only half the recipe!!


 
Once the dough is made and after one rise, it is refrigerated overnight. The next morning is when the fun starts... if you thought the butter added to the dough was quite a bit, well you use almost the same amount to laminate the dough and then fold it, similar to the technique I've seen people use for puff pastry. The dough is rolled with a filling of cinnamon sugar and nuts to which I added my personal touch of orange zest!! Once rolled like a Swiss roll, it is sliced and placed in a baking dish with pecans, that I substituted with walnuts, since we don't get pecans in India.

And NO, you haven't yet seen the end of the butter!! Before you place the buns in the baking dish, the bottom of the dish is smeared with a thick layer of butter and sugar which will then go on to give those buns their sticky look!! Are you now ready to get your cholesterol tested?????

You have to let the dough rest at each step before you proceed onto the next step and this is what makes the recipe a 24 hour affair!! But once popped into the oven and that buttery, cinnamon aroma invades your kitchen, you are almost ready to forgive the effort that this recipe demands. The best, however, is yet to come.. upturn that baking dish, pop those buns onto a plate and nothing will be able to stop you from yanking out one of them!!



The beauty of these soft, layered, flaky, scrumptious buns is that for all the butter and eggs used, you are not left with an overpowering greasy after taste or for that matter, neither are you left feeling too heavy despite the richness of the dough!! In fact, these buns with their layered texture, thanks to the folding, are an absolute breakfast or tea time delight!! They are not cloyingly sweet nor sticky and that orange zest, in taste and aroma, simply refreshes the senses!! 

You'll be so lost in savouring and enjoying every bite of these buns, that you won't realise when you are done with one of them!! It's only because I knew how much butter had gone into them that I somehow managed to stop myself at one!!



Moreover, as a home baker, this recipe was immensely rewarding . The end result was so professional and beautiful, that when I first bit into them, I couldn't believe I had made these... maybe, all that butter did have a purpose after all!! However.. you'll also understand when I say, after this recipe I have a gym workout that I just cannot afford to miss!!!


Due to copyright considerations, only the person hosting the recipe for the group 'TWD:Baking with Julia' can post the recipe on their blog. The recipe for these Sticky Buns will be available on the blogs of Lynn and Nicole. Alternately, you can write to me at bakerindisguise@gmail.com and I will mail you the recipe.

67 comments:

  1. I love your photos! I'm glad I actually made them too, such a long recipe. I can't believe you did it without a mixer - very brave.

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    1. Thanks kate!! I can't believe it myself that i did it by hand.. but i think these buns were worth all the effort, time and butter!! I really really enjoyed them!!

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  2. your sticky buns look lovely and delicious! Well done on doing it by hand.

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    1. Thanks smarkies... still feeling pretty accomplished that i actually made these by hand!!

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  3. It was quite the process! Im glad you enjoyed them.

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    1. It was almost a 24 hour process.. but one bite of these buns.. and they were worth every minute of the effort!!

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  4. I love orange cinnamon rolls! They're my absolute favorite! I gave myself a pass on this one with the excuse that I'm still getting things back on track after our vacation but when I (eventually) make these, I'm definitely adding the orange zest! How wonderful!

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    1. Tierney.. you just have to try this recipe.. its a lot of work.. but the end result is brilliant.. you'll love them!! i know you will!! :) and don't forget the orange zest!!

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  5. How much I love your rolls! And what a wonderful idea to add orange!
    With this recipe we surely gained experience (and probably weight!)
    I've cheated on the butter and luckily the brioche turned out fine (it needs more salt and sugar, though).
    I did not like the sticky topping, but will remake the modified brioche for sure.

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    1. Thank you!! yeah.. lets just say I havent missed a single day at the gym ever since I've made these buns!! Saw your modifications with the butter.. sounds interesting!!

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  6. I cannot believe you made the dough by hand! I am totally impressed! Your photos are very nice and your post is very nicely written. And your Orange Cinnamon Sticky Buns with Walnuts look utterly delicious - orange zest is actually a good idea, the orange flavor harmonizes well with cinnamon and walnuts. Great job! Enjoy the rest of the week!

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    1. Thanks Andrea!! I managed surprise to myself when I decided to make the dough by hand!! :)) but they turned out so beautiful.. i forgive the recipe!! I probably wont make them again for a long time.. but I really enjoyed them!! the orange and cinnamon was beautiful.. the kitchen also smelled beautiful!!

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  7. Wow, I was going to pass if I couldn't find a way to make the food processor work. I think your poor hands deserve a massage and manicure after all that work! How delightful to put orange in to give it a bit more zip. Loved the experience of making the brioche, but you are so right, a gym workout is needed after every bite!

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    1. Spot on Diane.. a manicure was much needed as much as the gym workouts!! :))the orange gave the buns a lovely, refreshing twist!! Thank you for dropping by!!

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  8. Kudos for doing this without a mixer or food processor! They came out gorgeous…quite an accomplishment! Happy Tuesday!

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    1. Thanks Kathy!! i think it helped that I made only half the recipe.. made it a little more manageable!! but just loved loved the recipe!!! Thank you for stopping by!! :)

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  9. Your sticky buns look great and the orange zest was a good idea. I used my KA so I'm impressed that you did it all by hand!

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    1. Thanks Guyla!! :) the orange zest was indeed a good idea!!

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  10. I'm using walnuts too, will post about mine later, yours look just perfect!!!

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    1. Thanks mireia!! Had dropped by your blog earlier.. but realised you were probably giving it a miss this time round.. with your exams going on i guess!! Do try this when you get the time.. look forward to your post!!

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  11. I love the orange zest idea! I'm also very impressed that you did it by hand. Yours look so pretty. I hope your gym workout went well! I need to hit up the gym more this week for sure haha.

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    1. Thanks Sara.. between the hungarian shortbread and these buns .. i've been pretty regular at the gym!! :)

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  12. I bet the orange was a great(or grate, get it because of the zest?) idea. It's amazing you did it by hand, I bet you feel even more accomplished knowing you didn't need a mixer! They are beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Amanda!! Yeah.. the orange zest was a smart.. no make that...a 'grate' idea!! but honestly I couldn't believe I had made those buns!! abssolutely adored this recipe!!

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  13. Your sticky buns look great.. I did not have as much layer, because I rolled them from the short side :)

    I did mine with hand mixer, and it survived the test.. I did not have courage to do it by hand..

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    1. Thanks ferda!! Trust me if I had known we could use a hand mixer.. would have done that!! was scared the poor little thing might just burn out .. so did it by hand!!! :)

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  14. So impressed you did the dough by hand. That should count for at least part of your gym workout. ;) The orange zest sounds like a delicious addition.

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    1. Thank you!! :) I managed to impress myself too.. ;)!!

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  15. Love your orange twist! And your swirls look absolutely perfect.

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  16. That is what I love most about cooking. Tasting something wonderful and knowing that I made it myself. Yours look wonderful.

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    1. Totally agree allison!! after the first bite... i was a bit in awe of myself to tell you the truth!! :))

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  17. Beautiful!!! Yours stayed so round...they definitely look professional!

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    1. Thanks Lizzy!!! I don't know whether they looked professional.. but for a few minutes after they came out of the oven.. i felt like a professional alright!! ;) but you have to agree.... what a brilliant recipe!!

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  18. These look absolutely amazing! I can tell you put a lot of love into these beautiful sticky buns. Great job!

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    1. Thanks georgia!! Well not only love.. there was a lot of time, effort and butter put into them also!!:)

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  19. Oh yes these look good, so fluffy, tall, sticky in one word: PERFECTION!

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    1. Thank you catalina!! To be honest.. I just followed the recipe to the last word... all credit to the brilliant recipe!!!

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  20. your lamination looks great, and brioche by hand! good achievements!

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    1. Thanks Marilyn!! That recipe was long and tedious but it gave such stupendous results!! :)

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  21. They look great. Orange zest sounds like a yummy addition!

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  22. his is definitely comfort food at its best!

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    1. only if someone else is maing them for you!! :)..else its just too much work!! Thank you dropping by!!:)

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  23. Orange zest sounds great for this recipe! I am so glad to hear that you have enjoyed making and tasting the buns :)

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    1. Oh I really enjoyed this recipe!! but really impressed with the way you adapted this recipe.. a dash of rum to the topping...oooh yes!! :)

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  24. I agree with everyone, orange zest sounds perfect

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  25. I am so impressed that you did this with your bare hands! Great job, they are beautiful!

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    1. Thank you!! yeah.. sometimes i can't believe i actually went ahead and did it by hand!! :)

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  26. I'm sorry I missed this assignment for TWD this week;-( Your sticky buns look perfectly baked and so scrumptious;-) I'll try to get back on task next month;-)

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    1. Thanks patty!! Do try this recipe when you have the time.. you'll enjoy it.. had dropped by your blog earlier.. only to realise you were away on holiday!!

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  27. Hi Sarvani,

    This is my first time here and I am already in love with your space. These buns looks so perfect and delicious. Great presentation as well :)

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    1. hey hey hey!! Thank you so much for the lovely words!! Come by again!! Heading over to yours right now!! :)

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  28. Beautiful job! These were a chore, but worth the effort.

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    1. Thank you Cher!!:) Absolutely agree.. so much work.. but worth every minute of it!! absolutely loved these buns!!

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  29. Brilliant idea to add orange!! I love your photos!

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  30. I too love Julia Child..her shows come around noon time and I switch to her channel at the gym :)

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    1. :)).. smart thinking ...seeing the shows in the gym!! would absolutely love to see her shows unfortunately have a cranky internet connection that takes ages for the you tube videos to load!! Her book is fantastic.. you might complain or make excuses with the recipes.. but follow them to the last word.. and the rsults will astound you!! Thank for dropping by Reshmi!! Come by again!! :)

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  31. Do not see the Recipe! Where is the recipe for a miracle!

    Fell in love with them

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    1. Hi 'CukrowaKinga'.. this recipe is only posted by the person who is hosting this recipe for the group. You can find the recipe at http://eatdrinkmanwomandogscat.com/2012/05/15/sticky-buns-brioche-butter-and-another-tuesday-with-dorie/

      Else, you can write to me at bakerindisguise@gmail.com and i will mail you the recipe.

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  32. These look heavenly! I wish I had a bite right now!

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    1. Oh they definitely were Riley!! Make them and you'll find out how tough it is to stop at just one!! :)

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  33. These look so good. I have never made this recipe before. I am going to add it to my Mouth Watering Mondays. Come on by to see it this Monday at www.noshingwiththenolands.com Cheers, Tara

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    1. Thank you Tara!! :) will definitely drop by on monday.. am quite excited to see what its all about!!

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  34. I've been searching for a cinnamon roll dough that isn't bready and finally found this! Looks like I need to make Baking with Julia a permanent part of my collection. I'm glad to know it can be made by hand, as I don't have a stand mixer, either.

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    1. Oh you just have to try this recipe.. it is excellent!! and it may seem a lot of work by hand.. but the thing is that make half the recipe.. and its not so bad.. this recipe is brilliant.. follow it to the last word.. and you'll be amazed!!! Thanks for droping by!!

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