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Sticky Buns with Fig Jam and Orange Icing

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Sweetest Indulgence👩🏻‍🍳

Oh my!   Are you looking for a way to make your kitchen smell like heaven on earth?  🌎💫Try this!   Make Sticky Buns!

Every now and again, I think it’s perfectly divine to pull out all the stops and make something so oooey-gooey delicious.  This is actually pretty easy!  Making homemade sticky buns is a pretty easy way to make a very big statement:  “you’re sticky bun special” 🤗.  

I Dig Fig Jam😋

I wasn’t always a fan of the fig.  The only previous knowledge I had came from the very famous, Fig Newton cookie, a childhood right of passage, and a classic, I will admit.   The first time I saw someone put a whole fig in his mouth, skin and all I almost dropped over.  I just knew nothing of figs.  Now figs are one of my favorite ingredients.  I have many, many fig recipes to share in the future.  If you’re new to figs or you already love ’em,  try it with these sticky buns!   For my recipe go to https://wp.me/p9KEfL-D6

Sweet Dough

This is a recipe for the most perfect, simple sweet dough.  Put this into your recipe catalog and use it any time you feel like being creative.  You can use this dough as a base for any sweet sticky bun creation you come up with.  It’s easy and works perfectly every time.  The hardest part is trying to keep from eating it before it’s even finished rising!  It’s that good.   It takes about 15 minutes of active time and a few hours of waiting. That’s the hardest part!

 In a small bowl, add one egg yolk, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) melted butter.   Into 1/2 of warm milk, add 1 package instant yeast and a pinch of sugar.  Let it sit 5 minutes to activate and start to bubble.   Add the yeast mixture and give it a little stir. 

In a separate, large bowl, add 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, mix it up.  Add the wet ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until it comes together.  Remove the ball of dough and put it onto a lightly floured work surface.

Sweet Dough
Sweet Dough

Knead the dough until it’s soft and very pliable.  This dough is really soft and easy to work with.  Pat the dough into a ball.  Lightly butter the inside of a bowl.  Put the ball of dough into the bowl and cover the bowl with plastic.  Set aside.  Let the dough rise for about 1 – 2 hours.

Return to the dough, punch it down and reshape it into a ball.  Then, cover the top of the dough with more melted butter and cover with plastic.  Let it rise again for about  3 hours or you can leave it over night, refrigerated.

So Sticky Fun

I love to roll out this dough.  Just put a light layer of flour on a work surface, or follow my short cut to less clean up.  Put a sheet of plastic wrap on the counter.  At least 24 inches long by 24 inches wide.  It’s okay to double up on the seam.  Then, put the flour on top of the plastic wrap and roll to 1/4 inch thick.  For this recipe, you want a roughly 24 inch long by 14 inches wide.  Perfection is not a requirement.  (When you’re done rolling, just throw out the plastic, no mess!)

Roll the dough out, use plastic wrap between layers
Roll the dough out, use plastic wrap between the layers

Once rolled, then brush with melted butter and sprinkle the top all over with granulated sugar.  Spread about 1 1/4 cups fig jam evenly over the dough, leaving only about 1/4 inch or so border

Fig jam is spread on the dough
Fig Jam is spread on the dough

Roll into a long thin roll, 24 inches long.  Cut into 1 inch thick rolls.  Place into a 8 or 9 inch cake pan brushed with butter, cut side up.  Don’t worry if there is space not filled, the baking will cause these rolls to expand and take up every inch of space.

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 400°until they are golden brown. 

Cut and place in buttered cake pan
Cut and place sweet rolls in buttered cake pan

Sweet Orange Icing

While they are baking, make the icing.   In a small bowl add 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon orange extract or vanilla.  Add 5 tablespoons orange juice, either fresh or from frozen.  If you have fresh oranges, use the zest of 1 whole orange.   If it’s too thin, add a bit more sugar.  You want the texture of a very thick pancake batter.    Mix well then spread the icing while the buns are still warm, allowing the icing to ooze into the crevices.  Enjoy!

Sweet Rolls iced and ready to eat!
Sweet rolls are iced and ready to eat!
Sticky Buns with Fig Jam and Orange Icing
Sticky Buns with Fig Jam and Orange Icing

 

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