If you are a fan of sweet and sticky desserts, you will love the apple walnut sticky buns recipe. This delicious recipe is perfect for breakfast or as a dessert treat. The classic combination of sweet apples and crunchy walnuts creates a unique flavor that will make your taste buds dance. These sticky buns are easy to prepare and can be a great addition to any meal.
Ingredients:
Dough:
- All-purpose flour
- Active dry yeast
- Warm milk
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Large egg
- Salt
Filling:
- Apples
- Walnuts
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Unsalted butter
- Lemon juice
Topping:
- Cream cheese
- Confectioners' sugar
- Milk
Preparation:
1. Begin by making the dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and sugar.
2. Warm the milk and melt the butter in a separate bowl. Mix them together and let the butter melt.
3. Slowly pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and mix thoroughly. Add the egg and salt and beat the mixture until the dough forms.
4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for five minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until it is double in size.
6. While the dough is resting, prepare the filling. Wash and peel the apples, then chop them into small pieces.
7. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.
8. Melt the butter in a large skillet and add the apple pieces and the sugar mixture. Cook the mixture for 10 minutes until the apples are soft and caramelized.
9. Mix in the walnuts and remove the skillet from the heat. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes.
10. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangular shape that is about 1/4 inch thick.
11. Spread the apple-walnut mixture evenly over the surface of the dough.
12. Roll up the dough tightly into a long log shape and cut it into 12 equal pieces.
13. Place each piece in a greased muffin tin or baking dish, with the cut-side facing up.
14. Let the buns rise in a warm place for another 20-30 minutes until they have doubled in size.
Baking:
15. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
16. Bake the apple walnut sticky buns for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Finishing Touch:
17. While the buns are baking, prepare the topping. Mix together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and milk in a bowl until smooth.
18. Once the buns are done baking, let them cool for a few minutes before drizzling the cream cheese topping over each one.
Conclusion:
These apple walnut sticky buns are perfect for a sweet breakfast or as a dessert. Their sweet and sticky texture, combined with their unique flavor, makes them an irresistible treat. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can make these delicious buns at home. Perfect for enjoying with family and friends!
Apple walnut sticky buns are a delicious pastry that combines the sweetness of apples, the crunch of walnuts, and the stickiness of caramel. Making this pastry can be a fun and satisfying activity, but it does require some level of skill and knowledge. In this article, we will provide some valuable tips to help you make the perfect apple walnut sticky buns.
Tip #1: Use the Right Ingredients
The first and most important tip for making apple walnut sticky buns is to use the right ingredients. You will need flour, yeast, sugar, salt, butter, milk, apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and brown sugar for the recipe. Make sure that you use high-quality ingredients and measure them carefully to ensure that the dough rises properly and the pastry tastes great.
Flour
Use bread flour or all-purpose flour for the recipe. Bread flour has more gluten than all-purpose flour, which makes the dough more elastic and chewy. All-purpose flour has less gluten and produces a lighter and fluffier pastry.
Yeast
Use active dry yeast or instant yeast for the recipe. Active dry yeast needs to be proofed in warm water before use, while instant yeast can be added directly to the dough. Follow the package instructions to avoid over-activating or under-activating the yeast.
Sugar
Use granulated sugar for the dough and brown sugar for the filling. Granulated sugar provides the sweetness and feeds the yeast, while brown sugar adds a caramel flavor and texture to the filling.
Salt
Use table salt or sea salt for the dough. Salt enhances the flavor of the pastry and controls the fermentation of the yeast.
Butter
Use unsalted butter for the dough and filling. Unsalted butter has a pure flavor and allows you to control the saltiness of the pastry.
Milk
Use whole milk or 2% milk for the dough. Milk adds richness and tenderness to the pastry.
Apples
Use firm, tart apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the filling. Cut the apples into small pieces and cook them with butter, sugar, and cinnamon until they soften and caramelize.
Walnuts
Use raw or toasted walnuts for the filling. Chop the walnuts finely and mix them with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
Cinnamon
Use ground cinnamon for the filling. Cinnamon adds warmth and depth to the pastry.
Brown Sugar
Use light or dark brown sugar for the filling. Brown sugar has a molasses flavor and creates a sticky texture when baked.
Tip #2: Prepare the Dough Properly
Preparing the dough properly is crucial for making apple walnut sticky buns. Follow these steps to ensure that the dough rises correctly and has the right texture.
Mix the ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and milk, and mix until the dough comes together.
Knead the dough
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead it for 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
Proof the dough
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
Punch down the dough
Gently press the dough down to release the air, and knead it briefly to make it smoother.
Roll out the dough
Roll out the dough into a rectangle shape, about ½ inch thick.
Tip #3: Prepare the Filling Carefully
Preparing the filling carefully is another important tip for making apple walnut sticky buns. Follow these steps to ensure that the filling is flavorful and sticky.
Cook the apples
In a saucepan, cook the chopped apples with butter, sugar, and cinnamon over medium heat until they soften and caramelize, about 10-15 minutes. Let the mixture cool slightly.
Mix the walnuts and brown sugar
In a small bowl, mix the chopped walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined.
Sprinkle the filling on the dough
Sprinkle the walnut and brown sugar mixture evenly over the rolled-out dough, leaving about ½ inch around the edges.
Roll up the dough
Starting from the long side, roll up the dough tightly to form a log shape.
Cut the dough
Using a sharp knife or a pastry cutter, cut the log into 12 even slices.
Tip #4: Bake the Sticky Buns Perfectly
Baking the sticky buns perfectly is the final tip for making apple walnut sticky buns. Follow these steps to ensure that the sticky buns are golden, caramelized, and delicious.
Place the slices in a baking dish
Place the slices cut-side down in a greased baking dish, leaving some space between each slice.
Let the dough rise again
Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let the dough rise again in a warm place for 30-45 minutes until it doubles in size.
Bake the sticky buns
Preheat the oven to 375°F, and bake the sticky buns for 25-30 minutes until they are golden brown and the filling is bubbly and sticky.
Flip the buns
Once the sticky buns are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool in the baking dish for 5 minutes. Then, flip the baking dish over onto a serving platter to reveal the caramelized tops and gooey bottoms of the buns.
Conclusion
Making apple walnut sticky buns can be a rewarding and delicious experience if you follow these valuable tips. Remember to use the right ingredients, prepare the dough properly, prepare the filling carefully, and bake the sticky buns perfectly. With these tips, you can create a pastry that is sweet, nutty, sticky, and irresistible. Enjoy!