Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Buns

This recipe for Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Buns puts a new twist on classic cinnamon rolls.  These fluffy, soft buns are bursting with buttery, vanilla & cinnamon swirls.
Who doesn’t love Cinnamon buns?  It’s one of my favorite things in the whole world so I’m always trying to come up new versions.

Let me tell you, these Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Buns are absolutely amazing!  They are decadently vanilla flavored (with a nice hit of cinnamon) and after just one taste they will most definitely leave you craving more. 

Over the holidays, I watched a baking show where they made an Austrian bread swirled with not only cinnamon but vanilla too and I knew I had to try it in a bun!

I had some vanilla pods I was dying to use and knew this creation was just the thing I was waiting for.  I added the vanilla bean right into the butter that gets spread onto the dough before adding the cinnamon and sugar.

If you haven’t used vanilla pods before, they are really easy to use and the flavor is far superior to extract.

Here’s what you do.  Start by slicing them lengthwise. 
Then run the knife down the inside of the pod to scrape the vanilla beans out of the pod.

I used half for the filling and half for the icing. A half of vanilla pod is equal to 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (although beans have a much deeper flavor).  You can buy them here on Amazon.com

I added the beans to the butter and spread it onto the prepared dough.

Just look at those beautiful speckles of flavor!

Then I covered it with the cinnamon and sugar before rolling and cutting the buns.

Then I added them to a buttered pan to rise before baking.

I used half the pod for the icing which I made while it baked to let the beans infuse.  I like a glaze so I added it while the buns where still warm, but you can wait until they cool if you like you’re iced.

One thing I think is worth mentioning –  I was low on flour so I used half 00 flour which is usually used to make pasta, Italian bread, and pizza crust.  It’s a fine flour so I thought it would work.  I have to say that the buns turned out softer than any I’ve made before.  It’s not required, but defiantly worth mentioning.

5 from 5 votes

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Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Buns

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

This recipe puts a new twist on classic cinnamon rolls. These fluffy, soft buns are bursting with buttery, vanilla & cinnamon swirls.Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Buns

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12

Calories: 210 kcal

Author: Erren

Ingredients

FOR THE DOUGH:

• 1 1/4 cups hot milk about 110F
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant dry yeast
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg at room temperature
• ¼ cup butter melted
• 3 - 4 cups all-purpose or 1/2 all-purpose & 1/2 00 Flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

FOR THE FILLING:

• Beans from 1/2 vanilla pod or 1 1/2 teaspoons vaniila extract or paste
• 3 tablespoons melted butter plus more for pan
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

FOR THE GLAZE:

• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• Beans from 1/2 vanilla pod or 1 1/2 teaspoons vaniila extract or paste
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in a 1/4 cup of the hot milk and set aside.
2. In a large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg.

3. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth. Add yeast mixture. Mix in more flour as needed until dough is formed but still a bit sticky (this isn't as easy to work with, but makes a lovely soft bun)

4. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 2 - 3 hours.
5. When doubled in size, punch down dough.
6. Roll out on a floured surface into a 15 by 9-inch rectangle.

7. Scrape the beans from 1/2 vanilla pod to the melted butter (see post for instructions and photos).

8. Spread vanilla melted butter all over dough.
9. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough.

10. Beginning at the 15-inch side, role up dough and pinch edge together to seal. Cut into 12 slices.

11. Place the buns into a 13×9 pan about 2 inches apart. Cover with a clean dish towel and leave in a warm place to rise until dough is doubled (about 45 minutes to an hour).
12. Bake on 350f/175c for 20 - 30 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Meanwhile, In a mixing bowl whisk together the melted butter, the beans from the remaining half vanilla pod, and powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk.
14. Add in more milk as needed 1 tablespoon at a time until it is the desired consistency.
15. Spread over warm buns to glaze or wait until the buns cool for iced buns.

Nutrition Facts

Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Buns

Amount Per Serving

Calories 210 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 11g 17%

Saturated Fat 7g 35%

Cholesterol 44mg 15%

Sodium 305mg 13%

Potassium 66mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 25g 8%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 23g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 7.7%

Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 4.2%

Iron 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.