I mentioned last Secret Recipe Club post that I have a bit of a tough time every month. Each month when I get my assignment I got straight to the blog and start browsing. Usually I end up with quite a few pages open and I narrow it down then a few days later I pick my recipe.

This month I could not for the life of me choose between harvest pumpkin bread and cinnamon scrolls. So of course you know what happened next. I made both!

Oh boy am I glad I made these. The recipes were two of the best things I’ve baked in the last few months. Even just kneading the sweet dough I knew these were going to be good. The smell while they were baking had me counting down the seconds until they were out of the oven. You know the smell… cinnamon and brown sugar baking is one of the best.

This was taken about two minutes after I got them out of the oven. I just could not resist. I may have even had two. Don’t judge me until you make them and then try to stop yourself. I took half of them over to my grandma and she said ‘oh you should keep some for yourself.’ She laughed when I told her I did and I’d already eaten two. I think she gobbled up her portion in a couple of days too.

They are the softest, sweetest, most delicious bread you’ll bake. Ok so you may be able to do better but these are seriously good. I opted to leave off the icing because I like my buns au-natural but pop over to The Heritage Cook and check out the original recipe if you’d like to glaze them. Mine kept for a few days in an airtight container and the rest went into the freezer (which I just remembered – yay!). Enjoy!

What about you? If you had to choose between cinnamon buns and pumpkin bread which would you choose?

Cinnamon buns

Name: Cinnamon buns
Prep time: 2 h 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 2 h 35 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 125g (4oz/1 stick) butter; 3/4 cup milk; 1/2 cup caster sugar; 2 tbsp dry yeast; 1 cup water; 3 free-range eggs; 5 to 6 cups bread flour; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup caster sugar; 1 cup brown sugar; 2 tbsp cinnamon (I used mixed spice as I was out of cinnamon); 125g (4oz/1 stick) butter

Yield: 12-24

Prep Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

Ingredients

Dough

125g (4oz/1 stick) butter
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 tbsp dry yeast
1 cup water
3 free-range eggs
5 to 6 cups bread flour
1/2 tsp salt

Filling

1 cup caster sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon (I used mixed spice as I was out of cinnamon)
125g (4oz/1 stick) butter

Instructions

In a medium sized saucepan, heat the butter, milk and caster sugar, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Set it aside to cool to about 110F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, use the whisk attachment to mix the cooled butter mixture, water and eggs.
Change over to the dough hook and slowly add the flour with the motor running.
Add just enough so that the dough comes away from the sides.
You may need to take the dough out of the bowl and use your hands to knead it on a floured surface if your bowl isn't big enough.
Knead the dough until it is nice and smooth.
Butter a large bowl and place the dough inside, turning to coat in butter then cover with plastic wrap and set aside to double in size. This usually takes about an hour but can vary so go by size not time.
While the dough is rising, make the filling by mixing the sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon together then cutting the butter through until the mixture is like bread crumbs.
Line two baking trays with baking paper.
When the dough has doubled in size, transfer it to a lightly-floured bench.
Dust it with a little more flour then carefully roll it out to form a rectangle 30x22cm (12x9in).
Spread the filling over the dough leaving a little border around the sides.
Starting at the long edge, carefully and tightly roll the dough up to form a log.
Use a sharp knife to trim off the ends then cut into however many pieces you'd like.
Place the rolls flat on the baking trays so they are just touching then gently press the tops a little to flatten.
Cover with plastic wrap and set them aside to rise to double again (about 45mins).
About 15 minutes before the dough is ready pre-heat the oven to 180C fan-forced (350F).
When the dough has risen, bake the scrolls for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Drag the baking paper across to a wire rack to allow the scrolls to cool on the paper.
Best served warmed up a little in the oven (or fresh from the oven!).

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14 Comments

molly kelly on September 25, 2013 at 3.51 pm
Mummy likes cinnamon buns for breakfast too…..hint hint! x
- Claire on September 25, 2013 at 3.53 pm
  Oh really mother… might need a mixer so I can make them for you at the coast… hint hint :-) x
The Café Sucre Farine on September 22, 2013 at 3.41 pm
Claire, your pictures look like they should be on the cover of a baking magazine! I can see why you couldn’t resist them, I’m sure the aroma alone was enough to drive you crazy!
- Claire on September 22, 2013 at 8.10 pm
  Oh how you flatter me Chris!
The Life of Clare on September 21, 2013 at 6.55 am
These look soooo good! I love the idea of that smell permeating through the house!
- Claire on September 22, 2013 at 9.57 am
  Such an amazing smell!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes on September 21, 2013 at 12.21 am
I love Jane’s recipes. These do look irresistible.
- Claire on September 22, 2013 at 9.56 am
  Don’t they!
Glamorous Glutton on September 20, 2013 at 10.03 pm
As I was reading I could imagine the smell. Cinnamon buns always remind me of being in Sweden and waiting for the buns for breakfast. GG
- Claire on September 22, 2013 at 9.56 am
  I’d love to go to Sweden. Will just have to settle for more buns!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef on September 20, 2013 at 2.32 pm
Cinnamon buns every time :)
- Claire on September 20, 2013 at 5.15 pm
  Agreed!
Hotly Spiced on September 20, 2013 at 1.47 pm
These do look very good Claire and when I was growing up my mother would make something similar and the smell coming from the oven while they were baking was so fabulous I used to sit in front of the oven door, wishing them to hurry up. We always ate them immediately getting several burns in the process so I can just imagine how hard it would have been for you to resist eating them all – your grandmother was lucky to get a few! xx
- Claire on September 20, 2013 at 5.15 pm
  She was lucky!

The best ever cinnamon buns