Apricot-Pistachio Sticky Buns

Apricot-Pistachio Sticky Buns

Yield: 18 buns

Time:

• Mix: 10 minutes
• First fermentation: 2 hours at room temperature, then overnight in the refrigerator
• Shape: 15 minutes
• Proof: 60 – 90 minutes
• Bake: 25 – 30 minutes

Dough Ingredients:

• 518 g flour
• 280 g milk, at room temperature
• 54 g sugar
• 50 g (1 large) egg, at room temperature
• 10 g instant yeast, preferably osmotolerant
• 10 g salt
• 5 g diastatic malt (omit if unavailable)
• seeds scraped from one vanilla bean
• 78 g unsalted butter, softened

Filling Ingredients:

• 70 g sugar
• 65 g brown sugar
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. cardamom
• 80 g dried apricots, finely chopped
• 60 g shelled pistachios, finely chopped

Topping Ingredients:

• 18 T. butter
• 18 T. brown sugar
• 18 dried apricots, cut into quarters
• 90 g shelled pistachios, chopped (about 9 tablespoons)

Method:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook, combine the dough ingredients except the butter. Mix in low speed until the ingredients are incorporated and hold together around the hook.
2. Continue mixing in medium speed as you gradually add the butter.
3. Continue mixing to a medium-high level of gluten development.
4. Transfer the dough to a buttered container. Cover and ferment for 2 hours at room temperature.
5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and flour t lightly. Pat the dough into a rectangle on the parchment, slip it into a plastic bag, and place in the refrigerator for 8 – 12 hours.
6. Meanwhile combine the filling sugars, cinnamon, and cardamom in a small bowl, and the filling apricots and pistachios in another bowl.
7. Before removing the dough from the refrigerator, butter 18 muffin tin cups, or spray them with pan spray. You will also want to butter or spray the top surface of the tins.
8. Place one tablespoon of butter in each cup and press with your fingers to form an even layer of butter. Top the butter with one tablespoon of brown sugar, again pressing into an even layer.
9. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of chopped pistachios over the sugar, and arrange four apricot quarters on top of the nuts.

1. Preheat the oven to 340F on the convection setting, or 360F on the conventional setting.
2. Turn the dough onto a floured counter. Roll it into a rectangle about 14 x 21 inches. Brush the dough lightly with water.
3. Spread the filling sugar mixture over the dough, leaving a one-inch border along one long edge. Distribute the fruit-nut mixture evenly over the sugar.
4. Starting at the edge opposite the unsugared border, roll the dough rather loosely into a log.
5. WIth a sharp knife, cut the log into into 18 rounds. Place the rounds into the prepared muffin tins and press them down gently onto the bottom layer (which will become the sticky syrup topping).

1. Proof, covered, 60 – 90 minutes at room temperature, until the indentation left by a fingertip springs back slowly.
2. Place the muffin tins on rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, until the buns are golden brown and the glaze is bubbling up from below (the reason for the rimmed baking sheets!).
3. Invert immediately onto parchment-lined baking sheets, being very careful not to get any of the hot syrup on your skin.
4. These are best served when still slightly warm.