Crumb Buns and a contest!

I found this recipe in a cookbook I picked up at the library. I love dough that you make before you go to bed! I pulled this out of the refrigerator in the morning before I went to the gym. Then when I came back it was ready to make into the buns and rise. Everyone else slept in, so they were nice and warm from the oven when they came down to breakfast! The dough is buttery and rich, and the texture is amazing! I love the steusel too, it's a little different because you let it sit after you make it. For a yeast dough, this was different, but not to time consuming.

Crumb Buns

4 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup warm (110-115 degree) water
1 tablespoon yeast
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold butter, cut, see note*
1/2 cup milk
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla

Streusel Topping

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Rinse a small bowl with hot water from the tap, then put in the 1/4 cup warm water and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the sugar water, don't stir, and cover with a plate for 5 minutes. Remove plate and stir briefly with a fork, cover again and let stand for 3 minutes, or until bubbly.

In a mixer, using a paddle attachment, mix on low speed the flour, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar and salt. Add the slightly firm cubed butter and mix until it forms meal-size crumbs, 2-4 minutes.

Using a fork in a seperate bowl, mix the milk, egg yolks and vanilla. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture along with the yeast mixture. Mix for about 15 seconds, scrape the bowl and mix for another 30 seconds. This makes a real soft dough. Spray a bowl with Pam and place dough in the bowl patting it down with flour covered fingers to flatten the surface. Spray the top of the dough with Pam and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Spray a 9x9 pan with Pam. Heat oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven.

On a floured surface knead the dough about 8 times. Pat it into a square, then cut it into 9 pieces. Work each piece into a ball and line them up in the prepared pan. Cover with a cloth and let rise for 45 minutes or so, until they are touching each other.




Make streusel while they rise.

In a mixing bowl whisk the flour, cinnamon, sugar and salt. Mix in the melted butter with a wooden spoon. With your fingers, break up the lumps into smaller ones. Let this sit while the dough is rising.

After the dough has risen, spray the tops of the buns with Pam, then sprinkle the streusel over the buns. Push the steusel into the buns a little. Bake for 35 minutes or until just golden. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

*Cut each cube of cold butter in half length wise, then again making four lengths. Then cut them into 1 inch cubes.


Head on over to Make It and Love It for a great contest!