12large white eggs, room temp, uncooked with shell-on
1large egg
1tspwater
Instructions
Pour 1/2 cup warm milk (heated 30 seconds in the microwave) into a small bowl. Add 1 tsp sugar and sprinkle yeast over the top. Stir and let sit until bubbly (10 minutes).
In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine 1 cup very warm milk (heated 1 min in micro), with 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt and 8 Tbsp softened butter. Stir until most of the butter is melted. Note: If your butter isn't melting because it was too cold or you let your milk cool, no prob - just set the bowl over a very warm water bath and stir.
Stir in 3 beaten eggs, then proofed yeast mixture. Using the dough hook, beat in 7 cups flour (measured correctly - see above), one cup at a time until a soft dough forms then knead 8-12 minutes. Dough will be smooth, elastic, a little sticky to the touch and to the bowl but will not stick to your dry fingers.
Transfer dough to a large buttered bowl and turn it once so the surface of dough is buttered. Cover with tea towel and let proof in a warm draft-free place until doubled. I set it in a warm 100˚ oven for 1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and divide into 14 pieces. Form 12 round buns, about 3/4" thick, spacing them out onto 2 large buttered baking sheets or you can use a large 3/4 sheet to fit all of them. Press down the center of each bun with a tablespoon to make a hollow and gently press an egg into each hollow.
Shape remaining dough into two long thin rolls about 13" long. Cut each into 12 pieces and shape each one into a very thin strip about 6" long. Form a cross with two 6" long pieces over each egg, tucking the tails under each egg.
Just before baking, beat 1 egg with 1 tsp water then generously brush the bun and carefully brush the cross (the egg is prettier if it's not splattered with egg wash). Bake at 375˚F in the center of the oven for 18-20 min (mine took 20 min for the eggs to fully cook through).
Notes
*To measure flour correctly, spoon it into your measuring cup and scrape off the top **You don't have to have a mixer for this recipe. It is ok to mix and knead by hand. If kneading by hand, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and use just enough flour to keep from sticking to your hands.