Whole Wheat Honey Buns

Our furnace motor went out...its cold in our house...and a new motor is on back order! That means my oven has been working overtime the last few nights, trying to keep the upstairs warm for the kids. We've made buns, pot roasts, casseroles, cheesecakes, and cinnamon rolls. Being cold isn't fun, but the food we've been enjoying since the furnace went out has been!

Whole Wheat Honey Buns

4 1/2 teaspoons dry active yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cups warm water (105-115 degrees)
4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oatmeal

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water and set aside.

In your mixer bowl, mix honey, melted butter, salt and 2 1/2 cups warm water until combined. Beat in 3 cups of whole wheat flour with your electric mixer (speed 2 on your KitchenAid with the dough hook attachment), about 3 minutes, being sure to scrape the sides of your bowl often. Mix in remaining 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour and dissolved yeast until combined, about an additional 2 minutes. Add 3 cups of all-purpose flour and the oats and continue to mix until dough cleans away from side of bowl. If needed, add an additional 1/2 cup of flour.

Grease a large bowl and put dough into bowl, turning so that the top side of dough is greased to prevent drying. Over bowl with plastic wrap and a dish towl and place bowl in a dry, draft free and warm place for 45 to 60 minutes until size has doubled.

Lightly grease a large cookie sheet, and working with slightly floured hands, pull off a clump of dough a bit larger then a golf ball. Form a circle with your index finger and thumb and while using your opposite thumb, push dough through the circle. In essence pushing the dough into itself to form a solid ball. Place all buns on the greased cookie sheet about 1 1/2" apart. Again, cover buns with a dish towel and place in a warm place and allow to double in size, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water and lightly brush the top of buns. Bake approximately 20 minutes until tops are browned and buns should sound slightly hollow when tapped.

Allow to cool and Enjoy!!