Holiday Buns Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, potato flakes, yeast, salt, dill and garlic powder. In a small saucepan, bring water and butter just to a boil., In a small bowl, pour boiling liquid over oats. Let stand until mixture cools to 120°-130°, stirring occasionally. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add egg; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Knead in mozzarella cheese. Place in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 24 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Place in a 13x9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray; brush milk over rolls., In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; sprinkle over tops. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes. , Preheat oven to 375°. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Place the butter and milk in a medium bowl. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the saffron with a pinch of the sugar, and stir into the mixture. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in a little of the lukewarm butter mixture, then add the remaining butter mixture, the remaining sugar and the salt.
• Gradually add enough of the flour (almost all of it) to make a workable dough, kneading for 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes in a mixer with a dough hook. Shape into a ball, sprinkle with a little flour and cover with a cloth. Allow to rise in a warm spot for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, and knead in additional flour if the dough is sticky. Shape as desired into buns, braids or lengths. Place on lined baking sheets, and allow to rise again for 30 to 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400.
• Brush the buns with beaten egg, and press raisins lightly into the dough. Bake until golden and risen, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a bun comes out dry. Smaller buns may take 8 to 10 minutes; larger lengths and braids, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool the buns on a rack under a cloth.

Steps:

• In bowl: dissolve sugar in lukewarm water, add yeast and let stand for 10 minutes.
• In Large Bowl: measure out 12 cups flour and set aside.
• In Large Bowl: add milk, melted margarine and sugar, mix to dissolve.
• Add beaten eggs,vinegar, salt, lukewarm water, the sour cream(optional) and stir in the yeast mixture.
• Add 6 cups of flour and mix smooth, then add flour 1 cup at a time, until no longer sticky.(flour is approximate, for most part I use 12 cups of flour - on occasion I need more or a touch less. Flour being variable it may take more than the 12 cups of flour - add enough to give you a nice smooth elastic dough).
• Knead on floured board until dough is smooth and elastic, place in well greased bowl turning to grease top.
• Cover and let rise until double in bulk (about 1 hour) then knead down grease top lightly with margarine and again rise until double in bulk.
• Knead down, let dough rest ten minutes and shape into buns (many old recipes suggest the size of a large egg).
• Place buns on a well greased large cookie sheet (I put 3 in a row and not touching) lightly grease tops with margarine, cover.
• After rising 15 minutes press down lightly on top of each bun with the palm of the hand.( if wishing to make dinner roll shaped buns skip this step) Rise until double. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes until lightly browned -- brush with melted butter and bake a couple minutes more until nicely browned. Brush with melted butter when baked and cool on rack. The extra brushing with butter makes for a very nice top. Baking time depends on the oven and yield on the size of the buns.

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk milk, butter, eggs, honey, salt, and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed. Add yeast mixture, and whisk for 1 minute. Switch to dough hook, reduce speed to low, and add 4 cups flour. After flour is incorporated, raise speed to medium, and continue kneading.
• Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing until dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Raise speed to medium-high, and knead for 10 minutes. (Alternatively, knead by hand until smooth, 15 to 20 minutes.)
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until dough is very smooth, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic, and set aside in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Make the filling and topping: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in honey, corn syrup, and sugar, bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat. Let cool. Combine mascarpone and creme fraiche in a bowl.
• Punch down dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 3 portions. Roll each into a ball. Freeze 2 for up to 3 months (thaw in the refrigerator before using). Roll remaining dough into a 10-by-13 1/2-inch rectangle. Brush lightly with honey, spread mascarpone mixture evenly on top, leaving a 1-inch border, and sprinkle with pecans. Starting on 1 long side, roll dough into a log. Pinch along seam to seal. Cut into nine 1 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Pour honey mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan. Place buns, cut sides down, in pan, 3 to a row. Let buns rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place oven rack in lower third. Bake buns, rotating halfway through, until brown and bubbling, about 1 hour. (If buns darken too quickly, cover with foil.) Set a wire rack on a baking sheet. Immediately invert buns onto rack. Drizzle with honey, and serve warm.