Description
These winsome Italian breakfast buns are sure to become a favorite at your table.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed to the touch (100°f to 110°f)
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 6 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour (about 14.8 ounces or 420 grams), plus more for work surface
- 2 large eggs
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 1/2 vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 3/4 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (6 ounces), softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon granulated suga
Directions
- Stir together warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- Combine flour, eggs, egg yolks, honey, vanilla bean paste, lemon zest, orange zest, yeast mixture, and remaining 6 tablespoons sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Beat on medium speed until a soft dough forms, about 8 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl and hook several times. Cover the bowl, and allow the mixed dough to relax at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Add salt to rested dough, and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add butter in 3 to 4 additions, mixing well on medium speed until fully incorporated after each addition. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed, and beat until a shiny, smooth, strong, elastic dough forms, 4 to 5 minutes. (Dough will be sticky.) Transfer to a buttered or oiled container, cover, and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
- Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Punch down dough, and divide into 8 (4.3-ounce or 120-gram) portions. Pinch a small piece (about 0.5 ounce or 15 grams) off of each dough portion. Shape the larger piece into a smooth ball with the palm of your hand. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 3 inches apart. Roll the smaller piece of dough into a small ball. Press a deep indentation in the middle of each large ball with 2 fingers, and nestle 1 small dough ball into each hole. Cover baking sheet with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel, and allow buns to rise at room temperature until puffed and almost doubled in size, 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. In the last 20 minutes of rising, preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds of the oven.
- Whisk egg, cream, salt, and sugar together in a small bowl until well combined. Using a fine-bristled pastry brush, brush the buns lightly all over with egg wash.
- Bake buns in preheated oven until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 190°F, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating baking sheets between top and bottom racks halfway through baking time. Let cool on a wire rack about 20 minutes before serving.