Sticky Buns
By Jodi Erickson
My parents are asked to make these for all family/friends’ visits. They took a family recipe for farmer’s bread and modified it to bring in that farm fresh bread recipe (which any good farmer knows, you use eggs, milk and butter in anything worth making) and added cinnamon and sugar to it. Between the two of them they made it perfect. The measurements can be adjusted, as any baker knows, the recipe is approximations and you go by smell, taste and how it looks. I remember having a house full of family and friends for the holidays and summer camp out on the farm and waking up early to the smell of freshly baked sticky buns and it was the best feeling. Family, friends, making memories and great food. What could be better? We may not have had a lot, but we were rich.
Ingredients
3 ¾ cups Flour
1/4 cups sugar
¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 package fast acting yeast
½ cup water
½ cup milk
1 large egg
Butter to grease backing pan
½ cup sugar
¾ cup cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook cavatappi according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Combine all three shredded cheeses in a bowl and divide half into another bowl. Set aside.
- Combine garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Divide in half and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add half the seasoning mixture and flour. Stir until the mixture becomes paste-like, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add evaporated milk and whisk until thick. Add heavy cream and the rest of the seasonings and mix until combined. Whisk in Dijon mustard until thick. Slowly add in half the cheese, allowing it to melt before adding more.
- Stir in macaroni until coated with cheese sauce.
- Add a layer of macaroni and then a layer of shredded cheese to the prepared baking dish. Repeat layers.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Finish by broiling until top is golden brown, about 2 minutes.
