Vietnamese Cinnamon Date Sticky Buns (Printable)
Soft swirled buns with Vietnamese cinnamon, sweet dates, and honey brown sugar glaze
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
05 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Filling
08 - 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, chopped
09 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
10 - 2 tbsp Vietnamese cinnamon
11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
→ Sticky Glaze
12 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
13 - 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
14 - 1/4 cup honey
15 - 2 tbsp heavy cream
16 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make:
01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
02 - Add sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture. Whisk until well combined. Gradually incorporate flour, stirring until a sticky dough forms.
03 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 7-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
04 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, honey, heavy cream, and salt. Stir continuously until smooth and bubbling, about 2-3 minutes. Pour glaze evenly into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
05 - Combine brown sugar and Vietnamese cinnamon in a small bowl. On a floured surface, roll the risen dough into a 12x16 inch rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly over the surface, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture, and distribute chopped dates across the top.
06 - Roll the dough tightly from the long edge. Slice into 12 equal pieces using a sharp knife or bench scraper.
07 - Arrange buns cut-side up in the prepared baking dish over the glaze. Cover loosely and let rise until puffy and visibly expanded, about 45 minutes.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 28-32 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
09 - Let buns cool in the dish for 5 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter so the sticky glaze coats the top. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Vietnamese cinnamon has a sweeter, more complex flavor than regular cinnamon
- Medjool dates create pockets of natural caramel sweetness throughout
02 -
- Vietnamese cinnamon is worth seeking out at specialty markets, it is noticeably sweeter and more aromatic
- Letting the buns cool for exactly 5 minutes before flipping makes the difference between a messy disaster and a perfect presentation
03 -
- Use unflavored dental floss to slice clean rolls without squishing the dough
- If your glaze hardens too much, warm the pan slightly for 30 seconds before flipping