Lovely Quick-Rise Whole Wheat Cinnamon Buns

Makes 12

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Bun Dough 1 1/2 tablespoons quick-rise yeast 2 tablespoons organic brown sugar 1/2 cup Earth Balance or other vegan margarine 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or other non-dairy milk 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup warm water 4 cups whole wheat flour, divided 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Cinnamon/Sugar Filling 1/4 cup Earth Balance Margarine, softened or other non-dairy margarine 2 cups organic brown sugar 1 1/2 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, as much as you like

Directions Preheat the oven to 350F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. (I was out of parchment paper, but it works way better to use some and makes clean up easier too). Place the yeast and sugar together in a large mixing bowl.

Melt the margarine in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in the milk and vanilla and continue to whisk until warm. Add the water to the saucepan as well and then pour over the yeast and sugar in the large mixing bowl. Whisk in two cups of the flour to the yeast/milk mixture, then add the baking powder, sea salt and remaining two cups of the flour and stir with a wooden spoon, until combined and a nice dough forms. Lightly knead the dough in the bowl a few times and then cover and let rise in a warm place for 10-20 minutes. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and place it onto a large surface that is lightly sprinkled with some whole wheat flour.

7. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle (roughly 1 1/2 ft x 1 ft).

8. Spread the margarine evenly onto the rolled out dough with a spatula.

9. Sprinkle on the brown sugar and cinnamon.

10. Use a pizza slicer to slice the dough width-wise into twelve equal strips.

11. Roll each strip halfway on both side, meeting in the middle. (This is where the fun begins).

12. Take the cinnamon roll in your hands and gently twist and pinch the middle of the dough to form the bottom of your heart.

13. Place the finished heart-shaped bun onto the baking sheet and press down slightly. Make sure to leave a little space between each bun, as they will rise when baking. Repeat to make 12 cinnamon buns. (You can of course just make these into regular buns as well).