Recipe: Rum Buns

A serving maid unloaded two mugs and a plate of buns from a tray. The scents were heavenly. Rum, butter, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg…

She reached for another bun just as he did, and their hands bumped.

“After you, miss.”

She took up a bun, broke it in half, and passed him the larger portion. “You’re supposed to say my secret is safe with you.”

“Bun-swearing,” he said, regarding his pastry. “A kind of alimentary fealty my mother’s family would have understood all too well, except you aren’t making any secret of your shameless intentions. You’re going to waste a great deal of good coin on dresses and dancing slippers, spend many nights out until dawn, leading the unsuspecting swains around by their noses, then laugh them to scorn and catch the next ship for Boston. Not very sporting of you.” (taken from The MacGregor's Lady by Grace Burrowes) There was so much talk of Rum Buns in the steamy Scottish Victorian romance The MacGregor’s Lady by Grace Burrowes I just had to try my hand at making them. Fishing out my Gran’s recipe for Cinnamon Buns, I decided to Scottish it up just a bit and I must say that they were delicious. Now, if only I had Asher MacGregor, the Earl of Balfour, to share them with.

There was so much talk of Rum Buns in the steamy Scottish Victorian romance The MacGregor’s Lady by Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 978-1-4022-68724) I just had to try my hand at making them. 

Fishing out my Gran’s recipe for Cinnamon Buns, I decided to Scottish it up just a bit and I must say that they were delicious. Now, if only I had Asher MacGregor, the Earl of Balfour, to share them with. Le sigh.

The prep time is a little a long, but it will give you time for a little reading whilst waiting for the dough to rise. Oh, and don't forget The MacGregor's Lady is also available as an audiobook, so you can listen while baking. 

 

  

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins

Prep Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Yields: 2 dozen

 

 

 

Buns:

2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup milk, scalded

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons rum flavoring

5 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

Combine the first three ingredients and set aside (make twice in two separate bowls)

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup finely chopped dried dates

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon cinnamon

½ tablespoon rum flavoring

1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

1 Dissolve the yeast in warm water and set aside for 10-15 minutes to activate.

2 In a large bowl, combine the scalded milk, softened butter, sugar, eggs, salt and rum flavoring.

3 With a wooden spoon, stir together until well blended.

4 Add the yeast mixture and stir again.

5 Add the flour; stir until well mixed and the dough leaves the sides of the bowl.

6 Turn out on a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

7 Grease a large bowl and place the dough in it; turn to grease the top.

8 Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours).

9 Punch the dough down and divide in half.

10 Roll each dough half out on a floured surface to a 13x8" rectangle.

11 Melt butter and stir in rum flavoring.

12 Brush dough with melted butter.

13 Sprinkle filling over the dough rectangles and dust with cinnamon.

14 Roll each rectangle from one of the long sides like a jellyroll and seal the edges with melted

butter.

15 Slice in 1 1/2" slices and place 1" apart on a greased oven-safe cooling rack that is placed in a greased 13x9" pan and a greased 8" square pan.

16 Cover and let rise again for about 30 minutes, or until doubled again.

17 Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden; remove from pans and cool on racks.

18 Serve warm.

Want to learn more about the romance novel that inspired me to whip up these tasty Rum Buns? Then please check out my review of The MacGregor’s Lady by Grace Burrowes and don’t forget to visit the author’s website to learn more about The MacGregor series. To read chapters 1 & 2 click HERE


Looking for a tea to accompany Rum Buns? Why not try Jamaican Rum tea from Culinary Teas.

The light rum flavor is perfect for either breakfast or afternoon and will awaken your inner sailor.








Looking for something a bit stronger with more of a Scottish feel to it? Then why not give Scottish Whisky Tea by the Edinburgh Tea and Coffee Company a go?

The malty taste of a fine Single Malt Scotch without the alcohol. This perfect tea for a winters day.

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