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Yeast Water Dough Sticky Buns

Yeast water raised dough is a long-rise dough that allows flexibility in timing. Once the dough is proofed and filled, the rolls can be baked in a couple hours or wait in the refrigerator overnight before baking. Just plan the timing for straight-from-the-oven sticky buns for breakfast!
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #1 - Start dough the day before baking. Shape and bake rolls the following morning.
One day before baking: Make Preferment early in the morning if room temp is at least 75F, so it can double in 12 hours. If you aren't sure it will be warm enough to double in 12 hours, make it 24-48 hours ahead. I've refrigerated preferment for up to 72 hours and it works fine.
5-6pm before the baking day: Make final dough with the doubled preferment. Let final dough rise all night (8-12hrs) or until at least doubled in volume.
7am on baking day: Roll, fill and cut dough. Place rolls in baking dish. Let rise about 2 hours, at room temp; bake at 9 or 10am.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #2 - Start 2 days before baking. Shape and refrig night before. Bake in morning.
Two days before baking: Make preferment allowing at least 12 hours for it to double in volume.
7am day before baking: Make final dough with the preferment. Let final dough rise all day (8-12hrs) or until at least doubled in volume.
7pm night before baking: Roll, fill and cut dough. Place rolls in baking dish and refrigerate overnight.
7am: Bake!
Prep Time1 d 12 hrs
Cook Time25 mins
Servings: 12 buns

Equipment

  • large bowl for dough mixing and rising
  • 9x13-inch baking dish, glass or metal
  • Digital thermometer
  • Gram scale is preferable to measuring cups

Ingredients

Preferment

  • 100 grams Yeast Water heated to 90-95F (about 3 Tbsp) Microsoft Word - How to Make Yeast Water_UPDATE_BakersDozen 070721b (rosemarymark.com)
  • 100 grams whole wheat flour (about 1/3 cup)

Final Dough

  • 400 grams all-purpose flour or bread flour (about 3 cups) the dough will be softer with AP flour
  • 50 grams whole wheat flour (about 1/3 cup)
  • 250 grams tap water or filtered water (about 7/8 cup)
  • 75 gram Yeast Water (about 1/3 cup)
  • 50 grams honey (about 2-1/2 Tbsp)
  • 9 grams salt (about 2-1/2 tsp Kosher salt or 1-1/2tsp table salt)

Sticky Bun Sugar Filling

  • 1/2 cup (113g) butter, divided use
  • 1 cup (200g) brown coconut sugar or 3/4 cup (175g) packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (85g) honey
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup (100g) chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
  • 1/2 cup (80g) dried currants or raisins, optional

Instructions

  • Make the preferment 48 hours before baking: Stir together the 50grams 90-95F yeast water and 50grams whole wheat flour. Let stand at room temperature at least 12 hours or up to 24 until doubled. It can be refrigerated 24-48 hours and used later, if you decide you aren't ready to bake. Bring to room temp before proceeding.
  • Make final dough up to 24hours before baking: In a 3-4 quart container or bowl, stir together the flours. Combine the tap water (or filtered water), yeast water , and honey in a bowl or 4-cup measure. Heat to 90-95F (in my microwave this takes 30-60 seconds).
  • Stir together the flours and warmed yeast water-honey mixture until all the dry and wet are just combined. No need to knead! Let stand 20-30 minutes. This is the autolyse stage which hydrates the flour and starts to activate the enzymes and the gluten forming proteins, improving the dough's ability to stretch and hold it's shape
  • Now pour the preferment and the salt over the dough. Begin the mixing by lifting and folding the dough over and scooping up from the bottom of the container. Then pinch across the dough making chunks, then refold over itself until all the ingredients are combined. This can take 2-3 minutes.
  • Let the dough rest 15- 30 seconds, then do a couple more folds and let it relax into the bowl. Cover the container (plastic shower cap works well) and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
  • FOLDING: Now start the series of three folds every 30 minutes (the time doesn't have to be exact, even an hour between folds is ok). How to fold: lift an edge of the dough as far as it will go pulling gently, then fold it over itself. Do this 3 more times moving around the bowl.
    You'll notice the dough tightens with each stretch so the last time it barely stretches up. Cover with plastic and let rest again about 30 minutes. Repeat the folding session for total of 3 times which will take about 2 hours. Don't stress if you let it go longer, just not more than 3 hours.
  • BULK FERMENTATION: Keep the dough covered with plastic (the dough tends to dry if covered with a towel), and let it do it's thing for about 10 hours. I set the bowl on a cloth so it is not directly on the cold countertop.
  • Be patient! It takes 9-12 hours after the final fold to at least double (called bulk fermentation). This can take longer if room temperature is lower than 72F, or faster if above 75F. Dough should be 2-1/2 to 3 times the original volume. Look for a slightly domed top and some bubbles on the surface.
  • When dough is at least doubled, it's time to fill with the sugar filling. At this point it will be ready to bake in an hour or two, or it can be refrigerated overnight.
  • On a lightly floured surface or on a silpat, flatten the dough with hands or rolling pin to approximately 16X14-inch rectangle. Allow to rest a few minutes and continue stretching if needed.
  • Generously butter the baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Lightly warm remaining butter with the coconut sugar (or brown sugar), honey and cinnamon. Spread over dough to within 1/2-inch of edges. Top evenly with currants and nuts if desired.
  • Roll up the dough starting on a long edge. Cut into 12 even slices, a little over 1-inch wide. If dough is on a sillpat, use a plastic bench scraper or carefully cut with a table knife to avoid cutting the silpat.
  • Arrange rolls in the buttered baking dish.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or let rise at room temperature about 1 hour, until dough is slightly puffy.
  • Bake in 350F oven for about 25 minutes. (f refrigerated overnight, let stand at room temp while preheating oven). Rolls are done when very lightly browned on top and the sticky-gooey is bubbly and deep golden color under the rolls. Remove from oven and let stand 2 minutes. Invert onto a tray or silpat, or remove rolls individually with a wide spatula, scraping up the sticky-gooey for each roll.
    Most delightful served warm, delectable cool too. Can reheat lightly in toaster over or very briefly in microwave.