Daring Bakers Challenge: I think I have a problem!

For any of you who have been reading my Daring Baker's posts since January, you may have noticed a trend with me. Whenever the new recipe becomes available to us Daring Baker's, I print out the recipe and tape it up to my kitchen cupboard. Usually before wonderful Mary has a chance to make the printable version, I have faked it and taped it. Yes, even when I was the host, I still put it up on the cupboards.

This way it is nice and handy for reference, and it is available for me to jot notes down on it while actually making the recipe. Plus with it being front and center in my kitchen, there is no way I can forget to make it.

So when Marce decided we were making Cinnamon or Sticky Buns for the September challenge, I was thrilled and hit print! The recipe has been up on my doors for several weeks. Which is where I run into a problem. A big one.....

I don't want to take it down!

And if I don't take it down, where will I put the October challenge recipe from Mary?

See? That's a problem.

Marce, I think the recipe you picked was so good that I will be making it on a regular basis. As soon as I pick up some more instant yeast and whole milk. So maybe this afternoon.

Having given us a choice between the cinnamon and sticky bun variations, I decided to start with the sticky buns. I knew I would be making both versions, but wanted to start with the caramel since caramel and I are soul mates together.

OMG was this dough ever a pleasure to work with! Soft and supple, it mixed together much quicker than the recipe said it would, it rose beautifully and it rolled out to a nice rectangle in about 2 rolls of my rolling pin. Heck it took longer to cream the original butter and sugar than it did to roll out this dough!

And if I thought waiting for the second rise to occur was torture, I was wrong. It was smelling the amazing smells from my oven while they cooked that was the real torture. Knowing I would have to wait for the buns to finish cooking, then to let them cool a bit so I wouldn't burn my tongue eating them. Mmmmm and when we could eat them, melt into your mouth softness and caramel! These were so good I instantly decided to banish the families traditional Pillsbury cinnamon buns from our home at Christmas to replace them with these!

A few survived the initial assault of 6 of us on those buns, to be enjoyed the next morning for breakfast. Warmed up quickly in the microwave with a touch of butter, they were still absolutely divine!

With such a roaring success, I had to immediately made the cinnamon buns and see how they compared. And luckily did not have to go far to find the recipe again.

Again, the dough was a pleasure to work with. If every dough was that lovely, I would not be adverse to working with it more often. Yes, like some of the other Daring Baker's, I lost some of the cinnamon to the counter when I picked up the rolls, but having pressed it into the dough a bit, my loss was minimal.

Again the smells from the oven were wonderful and torture at the same time. To distract myself from them, I mixed up the glaze of icing sugar and milk. Holy cow is there alot of glaze for one little batch of rolls! Four cups of icing sugar is waaay too much.

These buns were good, very good, but nothing compared to the sticky buns. But then again, how oh how could a simple cinnamon bun with an icing sugar glaze dare to compare to the sweetness that is a caramel sticky bun? It just can't. Perhaps if the icing had been a cream cheese based version instead of just icing sugar, there might have been a comparison. Afterall, the basic dough and cinnamon sugar is the same, it is just the topping that is different.

Still, these were wonderful as well and will also be made again.

Oh, yes, typical of me, I made yet another batch of the recipe, back to the sticky buns. This time, though, instead of the raisins, I used apple. Chopped fine, I put apple inside the bun, with the cinnamon sugar, as well as sprinkling the tiny pieces all over the caramel before putting the buns on top to rise. Again the flavors were wonderful, but if I were do to the apples again, I would have to leave them in larger pieces as the little ones almost melted into the buns and the glaze, leaving only a hint of apple flavor in the caramel. Still very good, still the same almost divine softness of the buns.

I think I'm getting hungry just thinking about those buns!

By far this has been my favorite recipe that I've done with the Daring Baker's. The first that I made multiple times because I wanted to, rather than because I thought something needed fixing or changing. The first that I will be keeping and making over and over and over and over again. And did I mention I will be making them again?

Thank you so much Marce for your wonderful choice!

Now you have two choices - either go make some now (see Marce's blog for the recipe), or go read about the buns and experiences of the other Daring Baker's by heading on over to the Daring Baker's Blogroll! Then you really will want to run to your kitchen and start baking!

41 comments:

Annemarie said...

Great job with the buns, and I admire how much you've taken them to heart! Everyone is raving about the sticky buns - I only made the cinnamon, but maybe my second go at it will be sticky buns and nothing else.

Hilda said...

You're all motivating me to try the sticky buns since I only made the cinnamon buns. So nice that you love the recipe so much!

Anne said...

Oh, great idea to tape up the recipe like that! I think I'll follow your lead for next month! :)

Jes said...

I totally agree, that recipe was **amazing**! I definitely plan on making it again (and doing it correctly...I can't believe I forgot to read the last part of the recipe for taking the buns out!) Your buns look great and happy improvising!

Ilva said...

Cinnamom buns are one of these things that I have been baking since I was a child and I still love them so much (even though I prefer my Swedish recipe), it's always a pleasure to make and eat them! I'm happy you too like them!

Anonymous said...

Yay, Jenny!

I'm so happy to hear that you loved the recipe. I actually have the cookbook so I was able to follow along with the pics in colour. Your buns are gorgeous!

Brilynn said...

I really want to make the sticky buns now, if only I can manage to pay attention to them so that they don't burn...

Helene said...

I hear you sister! I have just been asked for a 5th batch, and I am so happy for it...we loved them this much! Great job!

kellypea said...

I agree that this is a keeper of a recipe. I always smile when you talk about having your recipe taped to your cupboard. Mine sort of lays around in plain sight, getting knocked about for weeks before I get busy. I agree that the sticky buns are to die for. This was definitely a fun challenge.

Unknown said...

This was a fun recipe to do, I'm glad you liked making it too! Great job!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Well Hello Jenny. Did you like the sticky buns? ;))
Yes I really did also. I would think the apple would have been excellent and added extra moisture!
Great job as always.

slush said...

I loved the caramel of the stickies too, if only I hadnt cooked it to a walnutty brittle! I think I may have to give it another crack.

Great job!

Anonymous said...

I loved the dough. It was heaven :)

Nazca said...

I knew I would love your buns, I bet they taste wonderful. No, no double entendrés there... none at all ;-)

breadchick said...

I'm with Tanna on this one. I'm confused as to if you liked the buns or not ;-)

Great job this month (as usual from you!) and glad you like the printed recipes. They are fun to write and I'm glad I can help you decorate your cabinets!!

Janet said...

I agree with you Jenny! I will be making these again (and definitely at Christmas)... but not too often because I really couldn't control myself when they were around...

Unknown said...

I wondered the best way of including apples. And yeah, these would be amazing over Pillsbury, but not nearly as quick. I definitely want to try the making up to the 2nd proof stage and just doing the last few steps in the morning.

Peabody said...

I plan on making these a few times myself...because I want to!
Well done.

Laura said...

Beautiful buns Jenny.Sticky heaven.

Dolores said...

I can relate to your dilemma... this recipe is going to be a regular repeater in my household too. I can think of all kinds of modifications I want to try. Figs. Dried peaches. Apples. Pears. Cardamom. Nutmeg.

steph- whisk/spoon said...

maybe you should frame it? :)
the sticky buns rule!

Thistlemoon said...

Great job on your buns!

April said...

I agree, this is a great recipe! Maybe you need to designate 2 cabinets for recipes! :)

Andrea said...

Well bugger it all. I'm not a fan of sticky buns, but now you've got me all juiced about trying them!

Karen Baking Soda said...

I do the same! Tape it on the kitchen wall...and yes I need to bake another batch, have to try the sticky buns! Great job!

Dharm said...

great writeup! I only tried the cinnamon coz I dont think there'll be many eager mouths for the sticky buns - but now I'm tempted to try them seeing as how could you got them!

KJ said...

I agree, it's a great recipe and I will be making them again. It's a great idea to tape up the recipe. I usually end up having to print it out three times because I keep losing it.

Pille said...

Hey, you really must have liked this recipe. Maybe you can print it out in a smaller font - then you can have more recipes taped up like this? :)

Meeta K. Wolff said...

I can see it already - we'll all be baking Marce's buns regularly LOL! Great going on yours!

Kelly-Jane said...

It's a good recipe, and your buns are great :)

Anonymous said...

You are definitely tempting me to make the sticky buns. I've got I just magnet to my fridge because I make them so much too. Lovely buns, Jenny!

Mila said...

Oh my good!!! I going crazy just by reading the post...!!! Can't wait to the weekend comes angain and then i'll be able to bake them!! You're pictures lust so beautifull!! How i wish i had joind you a mounth early!

Alpineberry Mary said...

I agree that the scent of the rising dough was amazing, but the scent from the oven while baking was heavenly!

Deborah said...

This was a great recipe, wasn't it!! I should follow your advice and tape the recipe up in the kitchen so I don't forget about it (although how can I forget about an excuse to bake??)

Wendy said...

My family, too, devoured the rolls with an uncanny speed. I didn't try the sticky rolls but your description of apples sounds wonderful. Wendy

Canadian Baker said...

I'm making them again too! They're fabulous. :)

Amy said...

I totally agree, sticky buns are now a weekly/biweekly ritual! They're just too good.

Anonymous said...

The recipe was just so great wasn't it? :) I totally love these sticky buns!

Lis said...

Well I can't see your photos for some reason - I tried every trick I know, but nada. :(

But that's okay - because just from reading your post I know those caramelly, ooey and goooey sticky buns came out perfectly! heee!

Way to go my sweet!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of keeping the recipe up all month.
Great sticky buns1

african vanielje said...

I think I had a similar problem except I'm not so organised and my recipe got a bit sticky and a bit cinnamony along the way. The last batch didn't work out so good because I think the splodge over the sugar made me add the wrong amount. I still ate them though, no point letting them go to waste. Great post