Caramel Popcorn Bun

Here's how:

• 1

  Dissolve the yeast in the milk and water. Combine all the ingredients and mix in a stand mixer—3 minutes on low and 9 minutes on high—until the dough is elastic and smooth. Double the time if kneading by hand.

• 2

  Take out the dough and knead it a little by hand, shape it into a ball, place it in a bowl, and cover it with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.

• 3

  Roll out the entire base dough into a large rectangle, or divide the dough in two and work with one piece at a time. Mix all the ingredients for the filling until you have a smooth batter, then spread it over the rolled-out dough. Fold the top edge toward the center, then fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge (the dough will now have three layers). Cut into strips and twist them into knots, then place the buns in baking pans or on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

• 4

  Let your buns rise in a turned-off oven with only the light on for 50–60 minutes. If you let them rise at room temperature, expect a rising time of 90–120 minutes.

• 5

  Remove the buns from the oven and let them sit at room temperature; preheat the oven to 240 °C. Brush the buns with beaten egg.
  Bake the buns in the middle of the oven for about 10 minutes.

• 6

  Caramel Popcorn

  Pour the oil into a saucepan with a lid and add all the popcorn kernels. Turn the heat to high until it starts to pop, shake the saucepan gently, and then lower the heat slightly. It only takes a minute or so, so don't leave the stove. Pour the popcorn into a bowl and add salt.

• 7

  Melt the sugar into caramel in a large skillet, then add the butter while stirring gently. Once the butter has melted and you’ve stirred it a couple of times, it’s ready. Pour in the popcorn and gently toss it so that each piece is coated with a little caramel.

• 8

  Spread the popcorn on a sheet of parchment paper and let it cool. Then sprinkle the popcorn over the cooled buns.

• 9

  P.S. If you love caramel—or maybe you’re planning to transport the buns and want them to stick extra firmly—you can make another batch of caramel and drizzle it over the popcorn with a spoon. The caramel will then act as a “glue” to attach the popcorn to the bun.