Breads, Rolls + Donuts Summer

raspberry cacao nib sugar buns

raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog

Hello! I come to you today with raspberry cacao nib sugar buns and a giveaway, both of which I’m terribly excited about. I’ve been baking up a storm lately;  this extended winter Minneapolis refuses to let go of is making us all stir-crazy, literally.

So we’ve been kneading and rolling and folding and repeating too often for this little family of four. But! these tasty raspberry circles were worth our time, and after enjoying a few, we gladly passed them out to our neighbors.

raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog

Raspberry Cacao Nib Sugar Buns

These little sugar buns are inspired by the lovely Seven Spoons, and while I’ve posted about them before, I couldn’t resist adding raspberry and cacao nibs to them. I also made this version with puff pastry (the original uses a Danish dough), and I think either would be delicious here. Originally I intended to use a cinnamon roll dough, but with the icing it all was a bit too sweet. If you do decide to go that route instead (in which case you may want to double the filling), I highly recommend The Smitten’s  version of cinnamon roll dough and icing.

I did include almond paste in the filling, but if you are trying to save a trip to the store, I think you could omit it – the cream cheese, sugar, and raspberries will be delicious. And, the filling is a bit thin, but I found doubling it turned into a terrible oozy mess, and preferred to take it lighter. You could double it if you’d like.

Also,  I did use homemade puff pastry here, which I highly recommend. Store bought will work fine, but the taste of homemade is far superior. I used the recipe from Sarabeth’s Bakery, an excellent cookbook.

1 sheet of puff pastry
6 tablespoons browned butter
granulated sugar, for dusting
1 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
2 ounces almond paste
1/8 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
good pinch of salt
3 ounces fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons cacao nibs

Preheat oven to 400.

Brown the butter (pictures and info here, if you need a visual).  Using a pastry brush, brush the wells of a muffin tin with the browned butter (about 1 tablespoon total). Generously sprinkle the wells with granulated sugar, so they are fully coated. Set the remaining brown butter aside to cool.

In a standing mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add almond paste, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, and beat until smooth. Add raspberries and mix on low until incorporated.

Lightly flour your work surface, and roll the puff pastry into an 8 x 20 inch rectangle. Brush the pastry with the remaining brown butter. Spread the raspberry filling over the surface, leaving a one inch border. Sprinkle the raspberry mixture evenly with cacao nibs. Starting with the long side, roll the pastry into a tight log. Pinch seams together and place the seam side down. With a serrated knife or a sharp scissors, cut the roll into 12 equal pieces. Place the pieces into the prepared muffin tin.

Bake buns until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for 2 minutes, then flip the buns onto a wire rack. When the buns are cool enough to handle, roll them in more granulated sugar, shaking off any excess. Best if eaten within a few hours.
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog
raspberry cacao nib sugar buns | the vanilla bean blog

  • Reply
    Virginia
    Friday, December 19, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    I cant wait to try the onion dip and theses little raspberry buns also looking forward to try more great recipes!

  • Reply
    Kelli
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Lovely buns and spoons!!

  • Reply
    Cheryl
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:43 am

    I love everything about your blog — the fonts, the design, the photography, the stories…
    Glad I discovered your blog! Wouldn’t mind winning the lovely spoons — a nice little way to stir some sunshine into the day!

  • Reply
    Jeannie Van Popta
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:37 am

    Beautiful!

  • Reply
    Katie Randall
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:05 am

    I also really love your blog it’s gorgeous! I would love to win these!

  • Reply
    Kara @ karascuisine.com
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:03 am

    These sugar buns are gorgeous! So lovely. Love the spoons too:)

  • Reply
    autumn
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:02 am

    I love the flavors that you use here! And the spoons are just as lovely 🙂

  • Reply
    Ariffa
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:01 am

    I love it when a blogger posts a beautiful recipe and I have all the ingredients on hands. Also. SPOONS. I’m moving into a new place soon and these would be a wonderful addition to my tiny kitchen

  • Reply
    Shirley
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 8:57 am

    Thrilled to have stumbled upon your blog. Lovely photography and delicious food. Thank you for sharing your talents. Would love those wooden spoons. Keep doing what you are doing. 😉

  • Reply
    Melody
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 8:56 am

    These look amazing. How do you not all get extremely fat?!

  • Reply
    Sarah | The Chef Next Door
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 8:54 am

    This recipes looks divine and the spoons are adorable!

  • Reply
    Tara
    Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 8:54 am

    I love everything you make and photograph! These look totally amazing

  • Reply
    Stephanie
    Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 6:42 am

    Goodness, that picture of the raspberry and cocoa nibs about to be rolled up is like a total dream– I think I literally sighed out loud seeing it, so vibrant and delicious it looked! I wish I was having this for breakfast right now! And holy cow, homemade puff pastry? Doesn’t that take like an entire day to make? I’ve never tried only because I’ve heard of the horror stories but maybe I’ll need to check out that cookbook you mentioned.

  • Reply
    Katie L
    Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 8:14 am

    What a beautiful post. I’m hosting a party this weekend and may try these out!! Thank you for the recipe, and for the opportunity to [hopefully] win these awesome spoons!

  • Reply
    Lindsey
    Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 6:25 am

    I’m looking to do a graduation brunch for my friends and these would look stunning and be pretty simple for me to make! So excited and gorgeous photography! love your blog…so much

  • Reply
    Kyna Marie
    Monday, April 15, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    i’ve been lusting over those spoons for weeks!

  • Reply
    Sara Martin
    Monday, April 15, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    Beautiful spoons & photography!
    I cannot wait to try this recipe!

  • Reply
    Heather
    Monday, April 15, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    Those are so pretty — inside and out!

  • Reply
    rachel
    Monday, April 15, 2013 at 10:56 am

    My stomach is growling, looking at these photos

  • Reply
    Joy
    Monday, April 15, 2013 at 9:08 am

    Thanks for the beautiful and inspiring post! This is my first exposure to your blog and I am hooked. 🙂

  • Reply
    Stacia
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    Can’t wait to make these and i have had some of these items on my etsy faves!

  • Reply
    Christine
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 9:22 pm

    Mmmm, you are killing me! I am off sugar and gluten at the moment and when I visit, I feel more and more deprived! Your photos are lovely as always and I am certain your buns are delish! So since I can’t have the yummy buns, maybe the pretty spoons will be mine? : )

  • Reply
    Tina
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    I love raspberries. You do them a great justice.

  • Reply
    Sarah
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    I love the spoons-and as always your photos make everything beautiful!

  • Reply
    Mariah
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 7:47 pm

    Those spoons are so cute! Nearly as cute as the pastries 🙂

  • Reply
    a
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    Golly! I think that I just fell in love! This is the first time that I have been to your blog (via Pinterest), and both this recipe and the spoons are magically tied to my heart! Carob and raspberry is one of my fave (recently discovered) combos! And wow! You have so many other gorgeous posts that I think I need to make a coffee and stay a while.

    Good luck to everyone entering to win those gorgeous spoons (although I am secretly hoping to be their new owner very soon 🙂 )!

  • Reply
    Chelsea Dowdell
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    These flavors have me itching to make this! I can definitely impress my teacher in culinary school with this in bakeshop class! And with the spoons too 😉

  • Reply
    Rachel
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    Those spoons are so simple and cheerful-looking!

  • Reply
    carey
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 7:49 am

    Oh my, what a great flavor combo! You had me at raspberry + cacao nib, and then almond paste and browned butter too…..yes. Beautiful photos, as always, Sarah. (:

  • Reply
    Zainab
    Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 2:42 am

    Georgous post! Those spoons look so cute.

  • Reply
    Beth | {local milk}
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    Truth time: never made puff pastry dough from scratch. This has got me feeling inspired. And I need a change of pace from cake batter! But as much as may bitch about sugar o.d….truth time part II: I just want more the next day. Baked goods 4eva. But mostly what I wanted to say about this post was that your beautiful daughter is upstaging the lovely spoons. When she gets older…. you’re gonna have your hands full, lady!

  • Reply
    Nickie Gorsky
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    Miss VB, you have outdone yourself with these dear little yummy buns AND I LOVE THE SPOONS…the better to scoop you with! [email protected]

  • Reply
    JRoz
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    My first visit to your blog – looks fabulous and I *will* be back! I have quite a wooden spoon collection (would NOT be without them; I use every one) and I love colour-coding – I think I require those spoons 🙂 Thx for the chance!

  • Reply
    Julia
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    These sugar buns look delicious and different, yum! Definitely want to try this for brunch tomorrow.

  • Reply
    Natasha
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:59 am

    Oh my, I love the idea of this filling!! Sugar buns might be the first thing I make once I’m done with school. These look so good!

  • Reply
    mamahay
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:21 am

    I recently found your blog and love your style (and recipes!). Thank you for sharing!

  • Reply
    Erin
    Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 8:02 am

    Everything looks so good, including the spoons!

  • Reply
    Debbie Z.
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    I sure would love to have these spoons. I’ve never really used wooden spoons and I think it is about time I started. : )

  • Reply
    jacquie
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    both the spoons and your buns are lovely.

  • Reply
    lyndee
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    i stumbled across your blog through pinterest and love it! and i love the giveaway!

  • Reply
    Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    I can’t get over how pretty these are. I wish I had one for dessert right now!

  • Reply
    Amanda
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    Sarah, these are gorgeous – and you are the one who inspired me to try cacao nibs a few months back. Would love to make my next batch of muffins with these spoons!

  • Reply
    Audrey
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Those spoons are so cute, and your photography is gorgeous.

  • Reply
    Sally Mae
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    I just discovered your site via Pinterest. I love your photography and style! I’m 90 min. east of Minneapolis…it just won’t end, this winter!! Sign me up for the spoons too. 🙂

  • Reply
    Emily
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    Sarah! I’m one of your many silent blog admirers, but good heavens these raspberry buns are too insanely gorgeous not to pipe up and say, if the roads weren’t so snowy, I’d try to drive down to snatch one! (We’re up in Duluth, and oh my word this winter is dragging on. We’re completely stir crazy too, though I’m churning my impatience for spring into batches of ice cream rather than baking.) I’ve been craving the bright flavor of raspberries, so I may well be making my own batch of these soon.

  • Reply
    Louise
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    These look beautiful, can’t wait to try them out. Just found your blog (and what a find it is!) and I’ve saved it to my reading list, already created a long list of ‘to bakes’. Those woodens spoons are gorge too!

  • Reply
    John
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    It was Seven Spoons (Tara) who sent me here from Twitter and your website is now bookmarked and being admired. The spoons are fantastic, the recipe looks incredible, and the last photos is completely amazing. The way she’s looking at the bun, her little hand, and the coordination of color between her shirt and the marker (not to mention the amazing light)…all very perfect.

  • Reply
    Maggie
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11:46 am

    What a great rainey day project.

  • Reply
    dervla @ the curator
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11:31 am

    oh my gosh, so pretty and perfect for spring (buns and spoons!)

  • Reply
    Maddie
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11:23 am

    These look delicious! Raspberry and chocolate is one of my favorite combinations, and I can’t wait to try raspberry and cacao nibs! Love your blog – thanks for another great post.

  • Reply
    Beverly
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11:16 am

    These buns look so yummy!

  • Reply
    Winnie
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11:08 am

    These buns! These spoons! Swooning…

  • Reply
    Leah B
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:50 am

    A great way to add a touch of bright Spring to the kitchen!

  • Reply
    Kasey
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Sarah! These look incredible! The combination of raspberry and cocoa nibs (not to mention almond paste) sound heavenly. If only I wasn’t going back to work on Monday…I’d spend my day making these! xoxo Oh ! And the spoons! I love them!

  • Reply
    Ashley
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:37 am

    Stellar! These look fantastic. I am especially in love with the 3rd photo. And I would also like to give those spoons a home in my kitchen. 🙂

  • Reply
    Lucia
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:22 am

    where do you buy cacao nibs???

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:47 am

      Lucia – I’ve found them in bulk at my local co-op, and at higher-end grocery stores. I’m thinking whole foods would have them, or you could order them online. I hope that helps!

  • Reply
    Maria
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:41 am

    I love cacao nibs! What a fantastic idea to pair them with raspberry in a bun! I think I might make these for my family’s April birthdays get-together! They’re so perfectly spring! As are those spoons. Sigh. Spoon envy.

  • Reply
    Araya @ Wind and Willow Home
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:40 am

    Can I win the buns?:) They look AMAZING!

  • Reply
    Caitlin
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:09 am

    these sugar buns are absolutely beautiful! and the spoons are very lovely, too!

  • Reply
    McKel | Nutrition Stripped
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:06 am

    I just stumbled upon your blog and it’s wonderful! You have great photography and not to mention this recipe looks amazing 🙂 Glad I found this one!

  • Reply
    Melissa // The Fauxmartha
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 9:00 am

    Sarah, I’m in love with all your flavor combinations! I wish, wish, wish we were neighbors. And those spoons look like heaven!

  • Reply
    tara
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:57 am

    SO gorgeous. You’re so smart with the addition of raspberry and cocoa nibs. And the almond paste! Truly inspired.

    It makes me grin to know that you’re making sugar buns. xo!

  • Reply
    Michelle L
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:39 am

    oh wow, these look perfect for a saturday treat! thanks for the recipe & giveaway

  • Reply
    Emma Galloway
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:33 am

    Oh man I wish I was your neighbour Sarah!!! Love the buns, love the spoons 🙂 xx

  • Reply
    Leah Anne
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:24 am

    Those buns look amazing! I will have to try them once exams are over. And I’ve been looking for a nice set of wooden spoons for a while now, and haven’t found any I like. This set is so pretty!

  • Reply
    Megan
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:16 am

    These look so good! And love the spoons 🙂

  • Reply
    Marywithgarden
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 8:04 am

    I have been in the same flurry of baking and these look lovely to try with GFGirl’s puff pastry! I love the colors of the spoons. Keep on baking!

  • Reply
    Anna
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Baking is definitely my way of making the best of the weather, too. These look amazing.

  • Reply
    amy
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 7:29 am

    Those look adorably delicious! I love the dreamy haze photo that comes back into focus on that last bite…irresistible. The spoons are tres cute-checking their site now-thanks for the inspiration!

  • Reply
    Caz
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 1:53 am

    These sugar buns look so pretty and even though I’m gluten free I can still appreciate them. The photos are beautiful. The UK is also in the grips of an extended winter so being in the kitchen baking is the best answer. 🙂 Those spoons are just gorgesous. I love the pop of colour.

  • Reply
    thelittleloaf
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 1:37 am

    These look so delicious – I love the pink colour and the shower of sugar on top. Those spoons look gorgeous too – I’m guessing the giveaway doesn’t extend to the UK?!

  • Reply
    Christina @ Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 12:45 am

    Ok, YES PLEASE! I would love!

  • Reply
    Morgan
    Friday, April 12, 2013 at 12:26 am

    Mmmm… Soon as I get home I’m going to make me some of these buns. 🙂 and man, those spoons are beautiful: such talent!!

  • Reply
    Ingrid
    Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    Your photos are beautiful, I love the rolling picture with that sticky lovely filling. The rolls look divine, as do the bright lovely spoons… we are heading into winter so both would brighten up a winter kitchen!

  • Reply
    Hannah
    Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 11:33 pm

    I can’t wait to try these. The almond paste sounds like a great addition!

  • Reply
    Carley @BEANS
    Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    You have such a beautiful blog. And I’m not just saying that to enter the giveaway, honestly 🙂 I’m really glad to have found my way here – looking forward to reading through the archives!

  • Reply
    TheTine
    Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    I love the contrast of the little hands and the elegant sugar buns.

  • Reply
    DessertForTwo
    Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    Wow! These are stunning! And I love the spoons, too! 🙂

Leave a Reply