While I usually just stick to recipes and kitchen tips, I do throw in a few personal stories and anecdotes from time to time. And, today happens to be one of those times where I have some personal news to share.
We’ve got a bun in the oven! And, I’m not just referring to the sweet strawberry buns you see pictured here. My husband and I are expecting our first child in early October, and we couldn’t be more excited! Of course, Yellowdog is excited, as well. She loves babies, and we have a hunch that she’ll be spending a lot of time keeping a close eye (or snout?) on the new addition to the family.
Somehow, we managed to keep things quiet for a while… And, it’s hard to believe we’re getting close to the halfway mark. Everything is going pretty well. After spending much of the first few months feeling sick and having very little appetite (you may have noticed some bland recipes and a lack of comments from me on your blog over the past few months), I have started to feel a bit better. I’m also starting to enjoy being in the kitchen again, which is good news for everyone… Especially my hubby who has had to suffer through whatever I felt like (or didn’t feel like) making for dinner. He’s a trooper.
If you’re worried that this is going to turn into a baby or parenting blog, I can assure you that it won’t. While I’m beyond excited about the new addition to my family, I still plan to keep on blogging about my favorite recipes and kitchen tips. Sure, you may see a recipe or two for kid-friendly food in the future, but it won’t be my focus. After all, I’m really looking forward to eating a nice medium steak and some gorgozola cheese as soon as I’m allowed.
So, now that everyone’s up to date, let’s talk about the other buns in the oven, shall we? I was trying to think of a fun food to make to go along with my big announcement, and somehow my brain came up with these sweet strawberry buns. Basically, they are cinnamon rolls (made with nice buttery dough) minus the cinnamon that have been stuffed with homemade strawberry jam instead. And, in case that wasn’t enough, I also drizzled them with a sweet vanilla glaze. They may not be revolutionary, but they are certainly tasty.
Sweet Strawberry Buns
Makes two 9 by 9-inch pans, 32 small buns
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 – 3 1/2 cups bread flour
- 8 ounce jar of strawberry jam
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 – 3 tablespoons of half and half (or milk/cream)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Begin by preparing the dough. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the warm milk, sugar, and yeast until the sugar and yeast are well dissolved. Add the softened butter, egg, salt, and about 1 cup of bread flour. Beat together (either by hand or using a mixer) for a few minutes.
Gradually add the remaining bread flour, stirring by hand, until a soft dough starts to form and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Use your hands to knead the dough until it is smooth, adding only enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
Shape the dough into a smooth ball and transfer to an oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until the dough has just about doubled in volume and the imprint of two fingers remains.
Meanwhile, grease two 9 by 9-inch baking dishes (or 9-inch pie plates) and set aside.
Once the dough has risen, punch it down, divide it into two halves and place one half of the dough on a lighty floured surface. Roll the dough out into a large square. Spread half of the strawberry jam thinly over the dough and roll up into a log (as tightly as you can so that the jam isn’t squirting out everywhere). Cut the dough into 16 (mostly) equal slices, and place them cut-side up in one of the prepared baking dishes.
Repeat with the remaining dough, jam, and the second baking dish. Cover the dishes and let the rolls rise until they are slightly puffy (about 45 minutes – 1 hour).
As the rolls finish rising, preheat the oven to 425°F. Bake the rolls for about 15 minutes, until slightly golden on top. Cool in the baking dish on a wire rack.
As the rolls are cooling, prepare the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract. Add more half and half, if necessary. Drizzle the glaze over the rolls and serve warm.
YAY!!! So excited for y’all Jen! So excited. xoxoxo
OH! MY! GOSH! I am so, so, so excited for you! Best news I’ve heard today!
Jen, congratulations!!!!! This is so so sooooo exciting.
Oh ya, and the strawberry buns look sensational!
Congratulations!! The strawberry buns look super delicious – a great twist on cinnamon buns.
I am with MJ…best news I have heard all day. I am positively thrilled for you Jen!!!
Heyyyy, is that a King Arthur Flour whisk in your bowl or are you just happy to see me? :) Congrats on the addition to the family, too. I’m sure Yellowdog will be a great big sister.
Hooray!!! Congrats, Jen & Darron! I can’t wait to give you a big ol’ hug in July. Love ya. And please will you bring some of these to BSP?
I added congrats on FB, but thought you might like a comment here as well. So congrats!
For sure – don’t change your site’s focus! There will be so much of your life taken over by baby stuff that it will be good to keep this part of you that is your passion. Good decision and I hope it’s not too hard. If you find yourself needing an outlet for mother discussion there are lots of forums and other places you can write/discuss.
So excited for you! God bless you and yours.
How wonderful! Congratulations!!! I am ready to get in the kitchen and make the strawberry buns, wow!
Wahoo!! I am so over the moon happy for you guys {{hugs}} You are going to be the best mommy ;D
YIPPEE!!! So excited for you and your husband! Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! I’m expecting my first in 10 days! If you need any advice, I’m a pregnancy pro now! ;-) So happy for you two!
YAY! So excited for you guys! These rolls look delicious. I’d love to have one right now.
I’m so happy for you guys. Don’t know how you managed to keep the secret for so long but I’m glad it’s finally out!
Congrats!!
I am so thrilled and excited for you!! CONGRATS!
Congrats! :) Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy. Now, please pass a strawberry bun? They look heavenly! :)
I’ll take tasty over revolutionary almost any day! Congrats on your Impending Mommyhood:)
Wow, that’s such an exciting news! Congratulations :-)
congratulations!!
I had noticed that you were a little quiet and I was hoping this was the reason why. YAY! So excited for you guys. That first trimester can be rough and I’m so glad you are on the other side. Sending hugs your way!
Congratulations! I agree those strawberry buns look great!
Congratulations Jen. Food and now baby, then more food. It’s a beautiful world.
Congratulations! What a sweet addition a little one will bring to your lives! I think these strawberry buns are the perfect way to share such exciting news :)
Wohoo!! Congrats :)
And what a delicious way of celebrating it. Do you Fedex, by any chance? :D
Hurrah!!! Beyond thrilled!
Congratulations!! Very exciting and these strawberry buns look wonderful too.
Congratulations!! I know how hard food blogging can be with morning sickness, my heart goes out to you! Hope you’re feeling better now. Wishing you all the best and hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly :) The other buns(hehe) look fantastic – I love the strawberry filling – yum!
Congratulations Jen! I am so excited and happy for you and your husband. Sending you love, hugs and all the warmest wishes for a wonderful rest of your pregnancy. Can’t wait to see pictures of your newest addition to your family. xo
CONGRATS JENNNNNNNNNNN, HUSBAND AND YELLOW DOGGGGGG!!!!!! i know you’ve wanted this for a long time and and just thrilled to hear the news!!
Congratulations! and holy yum!! making these tomorrow
~Heather
Congratulations Jen!!! This is going to be the most exciting time in your life!
Glad I caught this on FB; so excited for you!!! @KimMoldofsky
I am so unbelievably happy for you… As I am sure you are. Sending you happy, warm wishes. Congrats!
OMG wow- so excited for you! October is a perfect time of year to really nest, too. And you couldn’t have chosen a better recipe to accompany the announcement- but then, you already knew that. xoxo
Congrats!!! Such an exciting time! The strawberry buns are awesome too!
Wow, congrats Jen! So happy for you guys!! :)
Congratulations! So excited for you, Jen. :-)
This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time – I am sooooo happy for you!! Congrats! You are going to be fantastic parents!
Congrats! And that looks like the yummiest thing eva!
Congratulations! what wonderful news! Those strawberry buns look awesome.
Congratulations, Jen! I am sooo excited for you and Darron!
Congratulations!! That’s such wonderful news…wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy!
Oh Jen this is so exciting! Congratulations!!! I guess October will be an exciting month for both of us :)
Congratulations, how exciting!
A lovely recipe to accompany the most lovely news. Congratulations Jen: wishing you and your husband, and the baby too of course, all the luck and happiness in the world.
Yayyyy! Congratulations!!
Congratulations, mama! So excited for you!
Congratulations!!! You are going to be great at this. ;-) (((hugs!)))
Congratulations! I daydream about the moment I’ll get to share the same news… :)