A classic with a twist – no pun intended!
Ingredients
For the Buns
200ml milk
2 tsp ground cardamom
225g unsalted butter, softened
600g white bread flour
10g salt
10g fast-action yeast
60g caster sugar
3 eggs
200g soft brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
100g dark chocolate, finely chopped
For the Sugar Syrup
100g caster sugar
100ml water
Method
– Preheat the oven to 190°C / 170°C with a fan.
– Add the milk and 1 tsp cardamom to a pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add 175g butter. Stir until melted through. Leave it to cool.
– Add the flour, salt, fast-action yeast, sugar, and 2 eggs to an electric mixer. Turn up to a medium speed and slowly add the milk and butter mixture.
– Once mixed, knead for 5 minutes.
– Place the dough in a large bowl, cover it, and let it prove for 60-90 minutes.
– Add 150g butter, soft brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp ground cardamom to an electric mixer. Mix for 2-3 minutes.
– Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and roll it out to around 50cmx30cm.
– Spread the butter and sugar mixture evenly over the dough. Take it to the corners as much as possible.
– Sprinkle the chocolate pieces on top of the dough.
– Fold the top third of the dough down and then fold the bottom half up. Then, cut the dough into 24 even pieces.
– Take a piece of the dough and flatten it slightly. Cut one inch from the top all the way down the middle. Then, twist the legs together and roll it into a knot shape. Repeat the process with the rest of the dough.
– Grease 2 muffin trays and place the buns inside. Cover and let them prove for 40-60 minutes.
– Whisk 1 egg in a bowl. Lightly coat the top of each bun with some egg.
– Place the buns in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
– Meanwhile, prepare the syrup by bringing the caster sugar and water to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
– Once baked, remove the buns from the oven. While they are still warm, use a knife to prise them from the trays but leave them there. Drizzle a little bit of sugar syrup onto each bun.
Let them cool completely and enjoy!