Monday, October 1, 2007

Ready to Rise - DB September Challenge

In August I got up enough courage to join the Daring Bakers and luckily they accepted me into their brave and wonderful ranks. Therefore I solemnly promise to extend my baking a try new techniques and boldly take my kitchen to places its never been before, and blog about my experiences. No I have to decide which colour logo to use, pink, blue or orange. Decisions, decisions. I think I'll use the pink one this month as it is Pinktober to support Breast Cancer


September has been a busy month, due to birthday's but as soon as I heard that this months challenge was Cinnamon Buns and Sticky Buns chosen by Marce from Pip in the City, I knew that I would be making them for my hubby's birthday, as aside from being addicted to cake and cupcakes, he is also up for a bit of bun (well to tell the truth he eats anything baked).

Well it turned out to be a huge weekend, with much BBQing and singing on his new PlayStation and not to mention the sampling of cake and champagne, so the prospect of waking up on Sunday to bake was not that appealing, but I was organised with all the ingredients ready to do in the pantry, so it all went really well. Especially since waiting for dough to rise allows time for catnaps. Also I am glad about this months challenge as it was easy on the wallet, no copious amounts of chocolate or out of season products to purchase, and for this I was very thankful due to purchases of said champagne and PlayStation.

So how did it go?, you may ask . . .

Well the dough was soft and light, smelling slightly of lemons, so therapeutic after all that champagne and it came together perfectly, with no need to curse at sticky fingers and pry it off of my bench. So it was kneaded for the requisite time and popped into the oiled bowl, covered in plastic and left in the warm sunshine to rise.

As you can see I managed to take photo of this stage, made the fillings and then I went off for a nap. 2 hours later woke up and punched down the dough before I remembered to take a photo. Bugger. So I rolled out the dough, decided to make the smaller buns, and made a half batch of each. Turned on the oven, and put the covered buns out for another prove, remembered to take photo. Then tripped off to bed again.


The oven buzzer went, I shot up, stumbled into the kitchen and saw the kids watching the buns rise, screamed in terror that they were going to touch my babies (the buns not the kids), checked the oven temp and popped the Sticky Buns in first, with a tray underneath in case the caramel overflowed. Then realised I forgot to take a photo, double Bugger.



Paced around, pretending to clean up whilst I waited for the beauties to bake and was very nervous about burnt toffee/caramel on the bottom of my oven, but not to worry, they can out perfectly. Then I popped the Cinnamon Buns in and let them bake.

Flipped the Sticky Buns, tried not to make a mess, dragged the Cinnamon Buns out and let them cool, OMG they smelt so good. By this stage the family were hanging around like bade smells. Don't blame them really. Whipped up a half batch of the icing, drizzled, let it set. Then remembered to take photos. Yay.



The verdict, the overall texture of the bun, as light and not chewy, almost melt in the mouth, would have been very happy if I had purchased them.
Me, I loved the Cinnamon Buns, not too sweet, lightly scented and flavoured with lemon, the cinnamon tempting me to take another bite, I am in love with this recipe. As for the Sticky Buns, they were good too, but too sweet, I omitted the nuts as we have allergies in the family and maybe this adds another dimension to them, but its the Cinnamon Buns for me all the way.
Hubby, falls in love with me time and time again, but I think he is in love with the Cinnamon Buns, couldn't really get an answer out of him as his mouth was constantly full, of, you guessed it, Buns.
Took some round to a NZ family and they loved the Sticky Buns, and I was asked over again, especially if I brought Buns. Its nice to be wanted.



So that is my first Daring Bakers Challenge completed. Thank you to all the Daring Baker for being so welcoming to the newbies, and I hope I am doing the group proud.

I wonder how well these would translate into cupcakes . . . . .

30 comments:

slush said...

I think the pictures came out beautiful. And the buns, well they speak for themselves. YUMMMM! Congrats on your first completed DB challenge!

Marce said...

Congrats on your first challenge, the buns look great! I´m glad you decided to join in the fun this month :)

Brilynn said...

Well done on your first challenge and I look forward to seeing the cupcake version!!

steph- whisk/spoon said...

i think a cinnamon cupcake with glazy icing would be delicious! great job on your first challenge, and as a huge admirer of your cuppies, i'm so excited you're in the group!

Barbara said...

They look fantstic. Welcome to the Daring Bakers.

Helene said...

I love how your mind works: cinnamon rolls cupcakes...hmmhmmhmm!
Great job on your first completed challenge. Your buns look awesome but I'll let your hubby tell you that!

cupcaketastic said...

Thanks for all the great comments and welcomes, I'll get around to checking out the all your blogs soon. I am working backwards and have finished ZYXWVU and now am up to T, so Tartelette will be visiting you tonight. As for my buns I am baking them a little large at the moment and need to use a smaller cutter.

Pille said...

Great job on your first challenge - and it's quite daring to tackle both cinnamon rolls and sticky buns, too:)

Truffle said...

Yours are absolutely beautiful! The sticky ones are particularly gorgeous!

Dharm said...

Kim,
Great job on your first challenge! I really liked the cinnamon buns althouhg I didnt attempt the sticky buns. Your pics are great too and I think extra credit is deserved for doing this while a little 'hungover'??!! Good on ya! (yeah, I have a little Aussie in me having studied in Melb a loooong time ago!) Where in Oz are you??

breadchick said...

Your buns look fantastic, both types! Great job on your first challenge!!!

How To Eat A Cupcake said...

OHH wow... I'm drooling!

Deborah said...

Great job on your first challenge! They both look amazing!

cupcaketastic said...

Thanks for all lovely and supportive comments. And welcome to cupcaketastic if this is your first time.
dharm - I'm in Melbourne.

creampuff said...

Congratulations on completing your first DB challenge! Your buns are gorgeous!

marias23 said...

Gosh, you guys are all making me jealous! I wish I had made the sticky bunz too in addition to the cinnamon rolls!

Hungwwyyy!!!

Katie said...

Well done with your first challenge. They look wonderful.

Lis said...

Congrats on your first challenge!

What a funny post.. I thoroughly enjoyed reading that AND I could relate to it often (if I had a dime for every time I forget to snap a photo, I'd be rich!)

Both varieties turned out simply gorgeous! You've definitely got me drooling!

Way to go!

xoxo

Aoife said...

Both buns look great. What a lucky man your husband is, and what a great birthday present!

Dolores said...

A bottle of champagne, a bit of cinnamon bun, and a play station... I can't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday OR a new daring baker. Congratulations and best wishes to both of you!

Anh said...

I am drooling! You have done a fab job!

I am so glad to find another blogger from Melbourne. I just look through your cupcake creations. They are surely the work of art!

Peabody said...

Great job on your buns. I was like your hubby, you couldn't ask me how they were because my mouth was full of them!

Karen Baking Soda said...

I picture you in that kitchen screaming: don't touch that! Ah poor kiddies...but they got great reward!

monica said...

congrats on your first challenge!! quite an exceptiona job and i must say your buns are gorgeous...as are your cupcakes and i'm so glad i found your site!

cupcaketastic said...

Wow, I am blow away by all the fabulous comments. Thank you all for visiting. Hubby made a huge hint that some more buns this weekend would be fabulous, I just laughed, and showed him the tape measure, and asked if he wanted me to let out his pants a little.

Andrea said...

Beautiful buns! You really did a fabulous job on them. Welcome to the Daring Bakers!

lthrgirl03 said...

So I've been reading your blog for awhile - but never comment. But I was inspired by the rolls (and daring bakers) - and I went for it. It turned out great. I put a pinch of nutmeg in with the cinnamon sugar, and instead of lemon, I used an orange. They are FANTASTIC. I keep picking at them and nibbling.

-Molly in Ohio

cupcaketastic said...

Thanks for visiting ladies, and th lovely comments make me smile.Keep them coming.

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Kim maybe you think you missed a photo or two but the ones you got are just right on. And your write up really takes me right into your kitchen. Don't touch those buns! hehe! Kids are wonderful. This really was a very successful recipe.
Well done and welcome.

cupcaketastic said...

Thanks, kids are ratbags and I wouldn't have them any other way.