Name: BA's Best Morning Buns
Yield: Makes 24
Ingredients: 1 ¼-ounce envelope active dry yeast (about 2¼ teaspoons); 1 cup whole milk, warmed, plus ¼ chilled milk; 1 teaspoon plus ¼ cup honey; 4 large eggs, separated, plus 1 large egg yolk; 3½ cups (or more) bread flour, divided; 1 cup whole wheat flour; 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal or 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt; 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest (optional); 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature; ¾ cup (packed) light brown sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom; ½ cup honey, divided; 12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, divided; Bread flour (for surface); Nonstick vegetable oil spray; Fine sanding sugar or granulated sugar (for sprinkling)

Alex Lau

Too many morning buns for your crowd? This recipe halves easily. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Recipe notes