Braided Cinnamon Buns Recipes

CINNAMON CRUNCH BRAIDED BREAD

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a bowl in the microwave for just about 1 to 11/2 minutes until it is warm. Add in the sugar and salt, then stir the mixture. Allow it to sit until it is warm, but not too hot (if you have a thermometer, it should measure about 105-110 degrees in order to proof active dry yeast). Add 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of yeast right to this milk. Allow the yeast to proof for about 5 minutes. It should get nice and frothy.
• Add the softened (almost melted) butter and 2 eggs. Stir this well until it is all blended together.
• Gradually add in the flour,1 cup at a time. Add in the last 1/2 a cup and start to knead the dough with your hands until the last 1/2 cup of flour is incorporated in. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and continue to knead the bread for about 7 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Add a bit more flour as you need to during kneading. The dough should still feel sticky, but it will not stick to your hands. During needing, I added less than 1/4 cup of additional flour. If you add too much flour, your bread will be dry.
• Place this dough in a greased bowl and cover it. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place until it has doubled, about 1 hour.
• Split the dough into two balls. Knead 1/2 cup of homemade cinnamon chips into each dough ball. They made be hard to stick in initially, but as you work the dough, they'll stick. Split each dough ball into three pieces. Roll those 3 pieces out into a snake about 12" long. Braid the three ropes together and tuck/pinch the ends so that the braid does not come undone. Place each braid on a greased baking sheet.
• Beat the remaining egg and brush the tops of the loaves with this. This is what gives the bread such a lovely golden color!
• In a small bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon for the streusel. Continue to cut in the butter until the mixture is in coarse crumbs. Split this mixture between the two loaves, patting the sugar on top of the braids.
• Cover the loaves and allow the dough to rise for another 1/2 an hour, then bake the bread dough for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
• Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then slice and serve with butter or cinnamon butter.

CINNAMON-GLAZED BRAID

Steps:

• Place egg in a measuring cup; add enough water (70°-80°) to measure 1 cup. In bread machine pan, place egg mixture, butter, bread flour, sugar, salt and yeast in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed). , When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into thirds. Roll each portion into a 13-in. rope. Place ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch seams firmly to seal and tuck ends under. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Cool for 10 minutes. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over bread.

CINNAMON PECAN BRAIDS

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Add eggs and remaining water; mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Beat into yeast mixture (do not knead). Cover and refrigerate overnight., For filling, in a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Stir in pecans and cinnamon; set aside., Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; divide into four portions. Roll each into a 12-in. x 9-in. x rectangle on a greased baking sheet. Spread filling lengthwise down center third of each rectangle., One each long side, cut 3/4-in.-wide strips to the center to within 1/2 in. of the filling. Starting at one end, fold alternately strips at an angle across filling. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour (dough will not double)., Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly before removing from pans to wire racks. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over cooled braids.

BRAIDED CINNAMON ROLL KNOTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, yeast and 1 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
• Combine the milk and 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and let cool until the milk mixture is about 120 degrees F. Beat in the eggs.
• Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix on medium speed until all the flour is incorporated, about 3 minutes. Increase the speed to high and mix until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes. Grease a medium bowl with butter and add the ball of dough, flipping to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, whisk the brown sugar, cinnamon and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the remaining 6 tablespoons butter until well combined and spreadable; set aside.
• Generously flour a work surface and roll the dough out into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle with one of the shorter ends closest to you. Spread the brown sugar mixture evenly over the dough all the way to the edges. Fold the edge closest to you up and over a third of the way, then fold the top edge down to cover it like a letter. Pinch the edges closed to seal in the filling. Flip it over the dough so the seam is on the bottom and roll again into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into twelve 1-inch-wide strips. Working one at a time and starting 1/2 inch in from one end, cut each strip of dough lengthwise into 3 smaller strips so they remained attached at the top. Braid the three strips together, lightly pinch the ends and gently roll the braid into a spiral. Tuck the rolled dough into a nonstick muffin tin with the uncut end at the bottom of the cup and the braided side up. Repeat with the remaining dough. Cover the tin with plastic wrap and put in a warm place until puffy, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the cinnamon rolls, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
• Whisk the confectioners' sugar, cream and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth and spread on the rolls while they are still warm.