Sneaky Pie's Cookbook For Mystery Lovers

Human

MRS. HOGENDOBBER’S ORANGE CINNAMON BUNS

Makes 24

1 (¼—ounce) package active dry yeast

¼ cup worm water

1 cup milk, scalded

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter or margarine

1 teaspoon salt

3 ½ cups all—purpose flour

1 large egg

¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted

½ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup raisins (optional)

TOPPING

⅔ cup brown sugar

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or margarine

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

⅓ cup orange marmalade

Stir the yeast into the warm water and allow to soften (about 5 minutes).

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the milk, granulated sugar, ¼ cup butter, and salt. Set aside to cool.

Once the milk and sugar mixture has cooled, add 1 ½ cups flour and beat well. Beat in the softened yeast and egg. Gradually stir in the remaining flour to form a soft, sticky dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough briefly to form a smooth ball. Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, turning the dough several times to grease the surface. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, 1 ½ to 2 hours.

While the dough is rising, combine all the ingredients for the topping in a small saucepan. Heat slowly over low heat, stirring often, until the brown sugar has dissolved. Pour the warm topping mixture into two 8 × 8 × 2-inch pans and set aside.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Form half into a ball and let rest while rolling the other half into a 12 × 8-inch rectangle.

Brush the rolled dough with half the melted butter, sprinkle with ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ cup raisins, if using. Roll lengthwise into a tube and pinch the edges together to seal. Cut the roll crosswise into twelve 1-inch slices.

Roll the other ball into a 12 × 8-inch rectangle and repeat step 7.

Place the slices, cut sides down, on top of the topping mixture in the prepared pans. Cover; let rise about 35 to 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°G F.

10. Remove the cover from the pans and bake the buns about 30 minutes, or until brown on top. Cool 2 to 3 minutes, invert on plates, and remove the pans.

WHAT A CHARACTER Mrs. Miranda Hogendobber is. She’s a devout member of The Church of the Holy Light. She quotes scripture better than TV preachers. She sings in the choir. She fudges about her age but is finally brought up short by her fiftieth high school reunion. She helps out at the Crozet post office, where she is good friends with the much younger Mary Minor Harristeen, the postmistress. Widowed, Mrs. H. hasn’t much money. She often brings in treats she’s baked and Harry, as well as others, encourage her to sell her baked goods.

She finally does go next door to the convenience market and the proprietor says he’ll give it a go. Well, her items are a hit, but none so much as these orange cinnamon buns. The success gives Mrs. H. what she calls “pin money.”

I adore Mrs. H. because in my very first mystery, Wish You Were Here, she doesn’t much care for cats and dogs. Mrs. Murphy, with help from Tucker, wins her over—but of course!