Cinnamon buns

Instructions

1- In a small saucepan heat the butter, milk and salt until the butter is melted.

2- Allow the mixture to cool until it is lukewarm.

3- In a large bowl, stir together the flours, yeast, cardamom and sugar until combined.

4- Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs.

5- Pour in the lukewarm milk mixture and stir everything together to form a sticky dough.

6- You may have to use your hands as the dough becomes stiffer.

7- Oil the work surface with a teaspoon of olive oil.

8- Turn the dough out onto the oiled surface and knead vigorously for 5–8 minutes, using a plastic scraper as needed to prise the dough from the work surface.

9- Don’t be tempted to add flour, as this will make the buns dry and tough.

10- Keep kneading until the dough is considerably less sticky, smoother and more elastic.

11- Shape into a ball, and put into a large, greased bowl.

12- Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and set aside in a warm place to prove for an hour, or until doubled in size.

13- Meanwhile, for the filling and topping, mix the softened butter in a bowl with half the sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

14- Use a fork to mix the sugar and spice into the butter until it is completely combined.

15- Mix the remaining sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl and set aside.

16- When the dough has risen, turn out onto a floured work surface and gently roll out into a 36x24cm/14x9½in rectangle.

17- Spread the cinnamon-sugar-butter evenly over the dough with a table or palette knife.

18- With the longest edge closest to you, roll the dough up into a cylinder.

19- Cut into 12 even slices.

20- Place each slice onto a flattened out paper cupcake case on a baking tray, or into a greased muffin tin.

21- (Baking in a muffin tin will make your cinnamon buns taller and domed.

22- ) Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside to prove again for 30–45 minutes, or until risen.

23- Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

24- Brush the tops of the buns with beaten egg and dust liberally with the cinnamon sugar.

25- Bake for 12 minutes until the buns are dark golden-brown.

26- Enjoy warm with a cup of coffee.