Festive chelsea buns

6 Lge. buns

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 teaspoon Granulated sugar
½ cup Warm water
8 g pkg. traditional dry yeast, about 1 tbsp.
1 Egg
¼ cup Milk
3 tablespoons Granulated sugar
¾ teaspoon Salt
2½ To 3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup Butter, melted
¼ cup Toasted walnuts
¼ cup Brown sugar
Finely grated peel of 1/2 orange and 1/2 lemon
⅓ cup Raisins
½ teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon Softened butter
½ cup Brown sugar
¼ cup Butter
3 tablespoons Corn syrup
¼ cup Toasted walnuts
2 tablespoons Dried cranberries

Directions

BUNS:

FILLING:

CARAMEL TOPPING:

Proof yeast by stirring 1 teaspoon sugar into warm water until dissolved.

Sprinkle yeast over top. Do not stir. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, lightly beat egg. Stir in milk, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt. When yeast mixture is foamy, stir into egg mixture. Stir in 2 cups flour and melted butter. Stir in more flour, ¼ cup at a time, just until too stiff to stir.

Sprinkle counter with flour and place dough on top. Knead until dough is fairly smooth and only slightly sticky, about 10 minutes. When dough becomes too sticky, sprinkle counter with more flour. Sprinkle with flour underneath dough. Loosely cover with greased waxed paper, then a damp tea towel. Let rise at room temperature until doubled, about 1 hour.

For filling, finely chop walnuts. In a small bowl, stir with brown sugar, peels, raisins and spices. Measure out butter and set aside. For topping, measure brown sugar, butter and corn syrup into a saucepan. Coarsely chop walnuts and measure out cranberries. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY:

When dough has risen, preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease an 8 inch square pan or coat with cooking spray. Punch down dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a rectangle 6 inches wide and 12 inches long. Spread with reserved 1 tablespoon butter. Then evenly sprinkle with raisin filling mixture. Beginning at a short side, roll up dough to make a tight roll. Using a serrated knife, cut roll into 6 thick pieces.

Cook topping mixture over medium heat until boiling. Let it bubble, without stirring, for 2 minutes. Caramel will be extremely hot. Carefully pour into greased pan, so bottom is evenly coated. Sprinkle with reserved walnuts and cranberries. Place each roll, cut-side down, in caramel coating. Heat from this hot caramel will speed up second rising. Let rise, uncovered, until rolls are doubled in size and fill pan, about 30 minutes.

Bake, uncovered, in bottom third of 350F oven until a deep golden brown, from 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, place a baking sheet or piece of waxed paper on counter where buns will be cooled. Place cooling rack directly on top of buns, legs-side up. Invert pan onto baking sheet or waxed paper. Remove pan carefully, remembering that caramel can burn. Replace any walnuts or cranberries.

Cool. Buns will keep well, uncovered, at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Or cover and freeze.

MAKE AHEAD:

Prepare topping first and pour into pan. Sprinkle with nuts and cranberries. Set aside to cool. Then prepare dough and let it rise. Fill, roll and cut dough into 6 pieces. Place dough in a room-temperature caramel-lined baking pan. Loosely but completely cover with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 1 day. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350F. Bake cold buns for a total of 35 to 40 minutes. If browning too quickly, place a piece of foil loosely over top.

Preparation time: 45 minutes Rising time: 1½ hours Cooking time 2 minutes Baking time: 25 minutes Makes 6 large buns. Typed in MMFormat by cjhartlin@... Source: Chatelaine Magazine November 1998.

Posted to MM-Recipes Digest by "Cindy Hartlin" <cjhartlin@...> on Oct 6, 1998

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