Strawberries & Cream Morning Buns
A delightful twist on traditional cinnamon rolls, featuring a sweet and tangy strawberry cream cheese filling and a creamy icing that's perfect for breakfast or brunch. These buns are light and fluffy with a buttery texture, and are sure to impress anyone who tries them.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 3 ¾ cups bread flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ cup heavy cream
For the filling:
- 1 cup cream cheese softened
- 1 cup strawberries chopped
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup freeze-dried strawberries finely crushed
For the icing:
- ¼ cup reserved filling
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the 3 ¾ cups bread flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp salt.3 ¾ cups bread flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp salt
- Add the 1 cup whole milk to a microwave bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Use a thermometer to ensure the liquid is between 105-110 degrees F.1 cup whole milk
- Add the milk to the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle the 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast over the milk and lightly stir. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until somewhat frothy.2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- Add the ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the milk and whisk until combined.¼ cup unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Add the flour to the wet ingredients 1 cup at a time, completely mixing with a dough hook on medium speed before each addition. Once all of the flour has been added, increase the speed to medium-high and beat with the dough hook for about 8 minutes until the dough is a smooth and elastic ball. (alternatively you can manually knead with your hands for about 10 minutes until you achieve the same results.
- If the dough is so stick that it sticks to your hands, add more flour 2 tbsp at a time and beat on low speed until the dough comes together.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and then a damp, warm kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1.5 hours or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish or a cast iron skillet (what I prefer) by greasing it with butter.
- Meanwhile, start the filling by adding the 1 cup strawberries, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract to a small saucepan. Cook on low heat for about 8 minutes, stirring constantly so that the sugar doesn’t burn. Cook until the fruit is soft and all the sugar is dissolved into a syrupy coating. Transfer the cooked strawberries to a heat-proof bowl and chill for at least 30 minutes.1 cup strawberries, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Once cooled, add the cooked strawberries and 1/2 cup of the crushed freeze-dried strawberries to a bowl with the 1 cup cream cheese. Beat with a hand mixer until fluffy and combined, for about 3 minutes.1 cup cream cheese, ¾ cup freeze-dried strawberries
- On a floured surface, roll the dough out into a large rectangle (approximately 16x20 inches).
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough and sprinkle the remaining freeze-dried strawberries evenly on top. Reserve a 1/4 cup of this filling for the icing.¾ cup freeze-dried strawberries
- Roll the dough up tightly, starting from the long side.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the roll into about 12 equal pieces.
- To make the rolls heart shaped, use a sharp knife to cut a 1 inch slice into the circle. Curve the split sides together into two rounded shapes that resemble the top of a heart. Pinch the other side of the roll into a point.
- Place the rolls in the prepared baking dish, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let them rise for another 15-20 minutes.
- Brush the buns with 2 tbsp heavy cream. Bake the buns for 25-30 minutes, until they are golden brown on top.2 tbsp heavy cream
- While the rolls are baking, make the icing by whisking together the ¼ cup reserved filling, ½ cup heavy cream, and 2 tbsp powdered sugar until smooth.½ cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, ¼ cup reserved filling
- When the buns are finished baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before spreading the icing over the top.