With a mesmerizing yet easy-to-execute shape, these Pear Cardamom Buns are spiced with bold, complex cardamom—the ideal companion for the subtly flavored pear. Slathered in every twist and curve of the golden dough, the homemade Pear Butter is a great way to make use of overripe pears and melts in your mouth with every bite.
Pear Cardamom Buns
Makes 16 buns
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 grams) warm whole milk (105°F/41°C to 110°F/43°C), divided
- 2¼ teaspoons (7 grams) active dry yeast*
- ⅓ cup (67 grams) plus ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar, divided
- ⅓ cup (76 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ cup (60 grams) sour cream, room temperature
- 1 large egg (50 grams), room temperature
- 2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract
- 4½ to 4¾ cups (563 to 594 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons (6 grams) kosher salt
- 1¼ teaspoons (2.5 grams) ground cardamom, divided
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground cinnamon
- 1¼ cups (360 grams) Pear Butter (recipe follows)
- 1 large egg white (30 grams)
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together ¾ cup (180 grams) warm milk and yeast. Let stand until mixture is foamy, about 10 minutes.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together ⅓ cup (67 grams) sugar, melted butter, sour cream, egg, vanilla, and remaining ¼ cup (60 grams) warm milk until combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, ¾ teaspoon (1.5 grams) cardamom, and cinnamon. Stir 4 cups (500 grams) flour mixture into sugar mixture. With mixer on low speed, add yeast mixture, beating just until combined. Beat in remaining ½ to ¾ cup (63 to 94 grams) flour mixture. (Dough should be slightly sticky.) Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at low speed until dough is smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and shape into a smooth round. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, turning to grease top. Loosely cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until doubled in size, 1 to 1½ hours.
- Punch down dough. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and roll into a 20x16-inch rectangle. Spread Pear Butter onto dough, leaving a ½-inch border on short sides. In a small bowl, whisk together egg white and room temperature milk. Brush one border with egg wash. Fold dough in half crosswise, trimming if needed to create a 16x10-inch rectangle. Gently roll over dough to ensure filling is even. Cut dough into 16 (1-inch-wide) strips. Twist each strip, spiral dough, and tuck end under. Place on prepared pans. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until puffed, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Brush buns with egg wash. In a small bowl, stir together remaining ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar and remaining ½ teaspoon (1 gram) cardamom. Top buns with cardamom sugar.
- Bake, one batch at a time, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 190°F (88°C), 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on pans for 10 minutes. Serve warm, or let cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
*We used Red Star® Active Dry Yeast.
Pear Butter
Makes about 3 cups
Ingredients
- 4 pounds (1,814 grams) Bartlett pears (about 8 large pears), peeled, cored, and roughly chopped into ½-inch cubes
- 1 cup (240 grams) water
- 1 tablespoon (3 grams) lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
- ½ cup (120 grams) fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) grated fresh ginger
- 1 whole star anise
- 1 cup (220 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (18 grams) vanilla bean paste
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a large stainless steel stockpot, bring pears, 1 cup (240 grams) water, lemon zest and juice, ginger, and star anise to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; boil gently, stirring occasionally, until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard star anise.
- Working in batches, transfer mixture to the work bowl of a food processor; purée just until a uniform texture is achieved and no large chunks remain. (Do not liquefy. It should look like applesauce.)
- Return mixture to pot; add sugars, vanilla bean paste, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until sugars are dissolved. Reduce heat to medium; boil gently, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and holds its shape with a spoon and liquid does not separate, 45 to 55 minutes. Refrigerate for up to 1 month, or freeze for up to 1 year.
Very innovative work. Great utilization of resources!!
Very well Explained! Great work!
These are great. I wrapped them like a plain cinnamon roll, to simplify. The pear butter is a LOT of work, so i suggest making two batches and freezing for later use. I used an alternative dough recipe with instant yeast, as it said they could be left in the fridge, unbaked for up to 48 hours. I’m not sure if this can also be done with active dry yeast? Do note that roll dough is quiete sticky and starts to shape up as you knead it, so add flour very carefully if it’s not coming together. I suggest watching some videos for better understanding.
Can I substitute apples for pears?
Hi Pam! Absolutely! Let us know how they turn out.