Best Cinnamon Buns

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour, divided
• 1 cup butter, divided
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup rum (optional)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon, divided
• 1 cup chopped nuts, divided

Recipe

• 1 dissolve 1 teaspoon of the sugar into warm water: sprinkle in the yeast.
• 2 let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
• 3 meanwhile heat milk, remaining sugar, butter and salt until butter has melted; cool to lukewarm.
• 4 in a large bowl mix egg/milk mixture and yeast mixture together.
• 5 using an electric mixer, beat in 1-1/2 cups of the flour.
• 6 beat for 2 minutes until smooth.
• 7 with a wooden spoon stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft, slightly sticky dough.
• 8 turn dough out onto floured surface.
• 9 knead for 7 to 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
• 10 place dough in large greased bowl; cover and allow to rise for 1 hour to 1- 1/2 hours or until doubled in size.
• 11 punch down dough.
• 12 meanwhile, over medium heat, melt 3/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar and rum, whisking until smooth.
• 13 pour into a greased 13x9 inch baking dish; sprinkle in half the nuts.
• 14 combine remaining sugar, cinnamon, and nuts.
• 15 on lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 18 x 14 inch rectangle.
• 16 brush with all but 2 teaspoons remaining butter, leaving a half inch border uncovered.
• 17 sprinkle with sugar mixture.
• 18 starting at long side, tightly roll up dough into a log, pinching seams to seal them.
• 19 brush with remaining butter.
• 20 using serrated knife cut into 15 rolls.
• 21 place cut side down in prepared pan.
• 22 cover and let rise for 1 hour or until buns double in size.
• 23 bake in 375 degree fahrenheit oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until tops are golden.
• 24 let stand in pan for 3 minutes.
• 25 invert onto serving platter, scraping off any remaining filling in pan to drizzle over buns.