STICKY CINNAMON BUNS

Oil parchment and place in baking sheet or pie pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Yield: 2-dozen (depends on the size)

optional: 1/4-cup smashed pecans or walnuts (hit with something heavy in a plastic bag)

2-teaspoons yeast

1½-cup warm water

1-tablespoon agave nectar

¼-cup oil

2½-cups whole-wheat flour

½-cup gluten flour

1-teaspoon salt

cinnamon to taste

1/4-cup room temperature

Zap (microwave) water in a cup for 30 seconds.  In the standing mixer bowl whisk together the water agave.  If comfortably warm to the touch, whisk in the yeast.  The mixture should look like the yeast blossomed and is foaming.  If not, your water was too cold or your yeast inactive.

Place the yeast mixture in a turned off microwave oven for 10 minutes.  The turned off microwave is a good environment for the yeast to grow.  If your oven has a bread proof function, place it in the oven on bread proof. 

Add the oil, flour, salt, and knead with the dough hook on your standing mixer or knead by hand for 10 minutes. 

Place the ball of dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a wet cloth, and place in a turned off microwave oven or bread proof oven for 40 minutes until double in size.    

Punch down on a surface sprinkled with flour roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness into a rectangle.  Sprinkle the dough with cinnamon and roll in the cinnamon with the rolling pin.  With the longer size of the rectangle facing you roll the dough loosely into a thick rope.  Pinch the edge of the dough into itself to close the rope of dough. 

Cut the dough into rolls 1/2-thick or larger.   Place oiled parchment paper in a baking dish or rolled sheet pan.  If you want to add nuts, place them on the parchment paper. Press the dough into the nuts so they stick to the dough. 

pie pan, oiled parchment paper, and pecans

press rolls into pecans

Oil a baking sheet, cover, let rise for 40 minutes.  Pour room temperature maple syrup over the risen buns. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden. 

Remove from the oven.  Place a serving plate on top of the buns.  Invert and the pecans will be on top like the top photo.