Maple Glazed Cinnamon Buns

Ingredients

• For the buns:
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 ounce active dry yeast
• 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
• For filling:
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon powdered cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered nutmeg
• For maple glaze:
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup Grade B maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Warm the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds, or set it in a small saucepan on the stove until it feels warm, not hot, when you touch it. Stir the yeast into the milk and leave it alone for 5 minutes; you’re looking for a foamy top.
2. Set up a stand mixer with the dough hook. In its bowl, add the flour, sugar, and salt, and give them a good stir with a wooden spoon. Stir in the eggs and the milk-yeast mixture. Add the butter, begin mixing on low, then turn the speed up little by little to medium high. Let the mixer knead until the dough is smooth and stretchy, about 10 minutes. Rub a little butter inside a large bowl, move the dough into it, drape a kitchen towel over the top, and set it somewhere warm until it has doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Press the dough down, then knead it for 1 minute. Form it back into a ball, cover it again with a kitchen towel, and let it rest for 30 minutes. Butter an 8- by 11-inch baking dish.
4. For the filling, whisk the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Dust a clean work surface lightly with flour, then roll the dough into a 16- by 8-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with the melted butter. Scatter the cinnamon sugar over the top, keeping a 1/2-inch edge clear all around. Roll the dough up like a jelly roll, then press the edges closed. With a sharp knife, slice it into 12 pieces. Arrange the buns in the buttered baking dish with the cut sides facing down; tuck them in as snugly as you can without squashing them. Cover the baking dish and let the buns rise until nearly doubled, about 40 minutes.
5. As the dough rises, move an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the buns until they are golden and puffed, about 35 minutes.
6. While the buns are in the oven, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add the heavy cream, maple syrup, and salt, whisking briskly until everything comes together. Turn the heat to medium high and bring it to a boil, then let it bubble hard for 1 minute. Brush the sauce over each cinnamon bun while the buns are warm.