Orange Cardamom Morning Buns (Printer-friendly)
Fluffy orange-cardamom buns with a brown sugar swirl and citrus glaze—fragrant, tender, perfect for mornings.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
04 - ½ cup warm whole milk
05 - ⅓ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - Zest of 1 large orange
→ Filling
10 - ½ cup packed light brown sugar
11 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
14 - Zest of 1 large orange
→ Glaze
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2–3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
17 - ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
# How to Make It:
01 - In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, orange juice, and active dry yeast. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes until the surface becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
02 - Add the granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, orange zest, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix on medium speed until all wet ingredients are thoroughly combined.
03 - Gradually add the all-purpose flour while mixing on low speed. Continue mixing until a soft, slightly tacky dough forms. Add an additional sprinkle of flour if the dough is excessively sticky.
04 - Increase the mixer speed to medium and knead the dough for 5 to 8 minutes until it becomes smooth, pliable, and springs back when gently pressed.
05 - Lightly coat a large bowl with oil. Transfer the dough into the bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place in a warm, draft-free spot. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
06 - While the dough rises, combine the packed light brown sugar, softened butter, ground cardamom, cinnamon, and orange zest in a small bowl. Stir until the mixture is creamy and uniform.
07 - On a lightly floured work surface, roll the risen dough into a 16 by 12-inch rectangle, maintaining an even thickness throughout.
08 - Evenly spread the cardamom-orange filling across the surface of the dough, leaving a ½-inch border along all edges to prevent spilling during rolling.
09 - Starting from one long edge, roll the dough tightly into a cylinder. Pinch the seam firmly to seal and gently tuck the ends under.
10 - Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 12 equal portions. Place each slice swirl-side up in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
11 - Cover the baking dish loosely with a towel or plastic wrap and let the buns rise until they appear puffy and have expanded to fill the dish, about 30 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
12 - Bake the buns on the center rack for 20 to 25 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the centers are fully cooked through. Allow the buns to cool in the dish for 10 minutes.
13 - Whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and ground cardamom until a smooth, pourable glaze forms. Drizzle generously over the slightly warm buns before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The orange and cardamom combination is unexpectedly addictive, like a Scandinavian bakery hid in your kitchen overnight.
- They look far more complicated than they actually are, which makes you feel like a genius when you pull them from the oven.
- The glaze soaks into every swirl and crevice, turning each bun into something between pastry and candy.
02 -
- If your kitchen is cold, turn your oven on for one minute then turn it off and place the covered dough inside to rise, because drafty counters can double your waiting time.
- Do not overflour the dough because a slightly sticky dough produces a softer bun, and adding too much flour will make them dense and dry.
- Dental floss really does make cleaner cuts than a knife because it compresses the log less and preserves those beautiful swirls.
03 -
- The dough can be made the night before and refrigerated after the first rise, then brought to room temperature before rolling, which splits the work across two days and makes early morning baking feel effortless.
- Zest your oranges directly into the sugar and rub them together with your fingers before adding other ingredients because the oils released will intensify the citrus flavor tenfold.