Pumpkin Sugar Buns

I just discovered this recipe from The Candid Appetite. They looked so good, I had to give them a go!

This is what the buns look like, when you run out of cinnamon and cannot make the cinnamon sugar coating and are forced to ice them instead.

Pumpkin Sugar Buns Makes 24


Dough

1/2          cup warm water (about 105ºF to 115ºF)

2             (1/4 ounce) packets active dry yeast (or 4-1/2 teaspoons worth)

1/2          cup milk

1/2         cup sugar

1            teaspoon salt

1/4         unsalted butter, melted

1            cup pumpkin, purée

2            large eggs, lightly whisked

2-1/2      teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

5 to 5-1/2   cups all-purpose flour


Filling

4            tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2            tablespoons granulated sugar

2            teaspoons ground cinnamon


Coating

6            tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2         cup granulated sugar

1            tablespoon ground cinnamon


Instructions

1. Dissolve the water and yeast in a medium bowl. Let rest in warm spot until frothy and foamy,a bout 10 minutes.

2. Warm the milk, butter, and sugar in small saucepan until sugar dissolves. Set aside to slightly cool. In a large bowl, stir together the milk mixture, salt, pumpkin purée, eggs, and water/yeast mixture, until evenly combined. Add the pumpkin pie spice and half of the flour in batches, mixing until well incorporated. Add as much of the remaining flour as needed to form a smooth and somewhat sticky dough. It should pull away from the bowl while mixing. Knead on high for about 8 to 10 minutes to form a soft dough. Transfer to well oiled bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and damp kitchen towel. Set in warm spot and allow the dough to rest until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

3. To make the filling, in small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Punch the dough down and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Cut in half and then roll each half into rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Brush with half the melted butter and sprinkle with half the sugar mixture. Roll into a tight log, lengthwise. Cut into 12 even pieces and place in well oiled muffin tin. Cover both muffin tins with plastic wrap and let rest in warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake the buns until golden brown and puffed up, about 20 to 25 minutes. make sure your oven racks are spaced far enough apart as buns tend to rise high while baking. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on cooling racks.

5. Meanwhile, make the coating by mixing together the cinnamon and sugar. Brush or dip the cooled buns in melted butter and then roll them in cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately or or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Will keep at room temperature for 2 days. You can also freeze the baked buns and then thaw and roll around in butter and sugar when you are ready to serve and eat.