Cinnamon buns

This weekend's must-make? Cinnamon buns, no doubt! There's something magical in that initial dip of a warm, homemade cinnamon bun into my coffee, especially after a fast. It's my ideal post-Yom Kippur tradition, and one of life's little joys. 

Recipe: 

Yeast preparation: 

2 cubes fresh yeast. Dried yeast can also be used. (1 cube = 42g dried yeast) 

1 T sugar- helps activate the yeast. (It may need an extra 1-2 Tbs to activate the yeast. 

Take this quantity from the sugar in the dough). 

1 cup warm water

Dough:

12 cups flour

1½ cups granulated sugar

375 g salted butter- melted

2 t salt

1½  cups warm milk- (don’t over heat)

1½ cups warm water

4 XL eggs- beaten (if small eggs then use 5 eggs)

Cinnamon filling: 

125g butter- melted                             

2 cups cinnamon & sugar 

Method:

Yeast:

Turn oven to 50° C or use a warming draw.  In a small plastic bowl, mix yeast and sugar into a thin paste.  Add lukewarm water and leave in oven, for 5-10 minutes until frothy.

Dough:

In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, and salt. 

Mix in melted butter, milk, water, and yeast mixture together. Add to flour mixture- do not mix. Then add beaten eggs, then mix very well. 

(If too dry add ½ cup warm water at a time. If too wet, add a little flour at a time).

Lightly coat dough with a little oil and cover with foil (shiny side in) and place in warming draw or oven for 15 – 20 minutes or until doubles in volume. 

Knead the dough well. 

Roll out a length of dough 48 x 12 cm. 

Brush dough with melted butter. Sprinkle a generous layer of cinnamon and sugar mixture. 

Roll as if it was a swiss roll. Cut into individual bulkas about 2.5 cm thick. Place into muffin tin. Leave some space in muffin tin so that the bulka can rise. 

Return to oven (50° C) and allow to rise to double. 

Once risen, paint with beaten egg. 

Bake in oven 180°C for 20- 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and turn out. 

Freeze well. 

Makes 60 bulkas. 

Optional Topping:

1/3 cup sugar

Just less than ½ cup flour

2 T oil 

Mix together and sprinkle over buns before baking.