Speculaas Morning Buns

I must have had more practice making buns out of pastry than making buns out of hair, because the bun I wear on my head in the mornings could only be described as messy at best.

Speculaas Morning Buns

Makes 6

adapted from here

For the Starter:

140g baker's flour

1/8 teaspoon dried yeast

130g lukewarm water

For the Butter Mash:

140g cold unsalted butter

25g plain flour

For the Dough:

160g baker's flour

40g dark muscovado sugar

1 teaspoon dry yeast

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

80g lukewarm milk

For the Filling:

1/2 cup Speculaas spread

Make the Starter:

Put all the starter ingredients into a bowl, mix to a shaggy consistency and set aside for 30 minutes.

Make the Butter Mash:

Put the butter and flour into a wide, shallow bowl and mash it together with a fork.  It will be hard at first, but will get softer as you mash.  Once it's a smooth consistency, set aside for 30 minutes.

Make the Dough:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the starter, flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Mix to combine, then add the lukewarm milk and mix on low for 10 minutes.  You should end up with a smooth, slightly sticky dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll it out to a 12cm x 60cm rectangle, keeping the edges as straight as you can.  Evenly dollop teaspoons of the butter mash all over the dough, then use a palette knife to spread it evenly.  Take the short edge and fold the dough over itself from one end to the other five times.  Pinch the open ends together to seal the butter mash in, turn the dough 90 degrees and use a skewer to poke a few holes in it.  Roll the dough again, this time to a 12cm x 50cm rectangle and roll from end to end four times.  Every time you fold, you are creating those lovely flaky layers.  Put the neat rectangle of dough onto a floured baking tray, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

Lightly spray a 6 hole muffin pan with cooking oil spray and set aside.

Put the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and roll it out to a 20cm x 40cm rectangle.  Spread with the Speculaas spread, then roll it using a long edge, into a log shape.  Trim of the messy edges and cut the log into 6 even potions and pop them, cut side up into the prepared muffin pan.  Set aside in a warm spot for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, or until risen and puffy.

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Bake the buns for 15 - 20 minutes.  Serve warm.