Finnish Cinnamon Bun Recipe

Cinnamon Buns (Makes about 35)

DOUGH:
5 dl milk
1 egg
2 dl sugar
1 tablespoon cardamon
1 teaspoon salt
22 g dry yeast OR 50 g fresh yeast
13-15 dl flour
150-200 g baking margarine

FILLING:
100g soft margarine
1 dl sugar cinnamon

FOR THE SURFACE:
egg
pearl sugar

1. Warm the milk to slightly warmer than body temperature. (+42 degrees C). Add the egg, sugar, cardamon, and salt into the milk. Mix the dry yeast into part of the flour and pour into the milk. If using fresh yeast, dissolve into milk which is at hand temperature (+37 degrees C).


2. Add flour a bit at a time, kneading the dough constantly, and add room temperature margarine in the last phase. Knead the dough until it is even and flexible. Continue kneading until dough no longer sticks to edges of the bowl. Leave dough to rise to twice its size underneath a clean kitchen towel in a warm and draftless place (About 30 min). TIP: Let the mixing bowl sit in a basin of warm water and cover with teatowel.


3. Knead the air bubbles out of the risen dough. Divide dough into two even parts.


4. On a lightly floured surface, flatten the dough pieces with a rolling pin into rectangles (30 x 60 cm). Spread the filling of margarine and sugar onto both rectangles. Sprinkle cinnamon over surface. (TIP: When you think you have enough, sprinkle EVEN MORE cinnamon on!) Starting with the long edge, roll the dough into a tight roll. Pinch the “seam” closed as well as you can and turn the roll so the seam is down against the table.


5. Cut the roll with a sharp knife in “tetrahedron” shapes so that one side is about 4-5 cm thick and the other is 2 cm thick. Lift up the pieces so that the narrow side is on the top, like a failed pyramid. Press the top of the “dough-pyramid” down all the way with both of your thumbs.


6. Lift the doughs onto a tray lined with baking paper. Leave them to rise under a teatowel in a warm, draftless place for about 30 minutes.


7. Paint the doughs with egg and decorate with pearl sugar.


8. Bake in 225 degrees in the middle of the oven for 10-15 minutes.