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4 from 2 votes

Cinnamon Buns at Gaston’s Tavern at Magic Kingdom

What’s your favorite all time Disney World snack? I have plenty! One of my favorites, is the cinnamon buns at Gaston’s Tavern at Magic Kingdom. They are delicious!
Servings: 12 Buns

Ingredients

Cinnamon Roll Dough

  • 1 1/2 Cups Milk
  • 1/2 Cup Butter
  • 6 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour Divided
  • 2 Packets Rapid Rise Yeast .25 oz Packets
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Cup water
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Melted Butter

Filling

  • 2 Cups Brown Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
  • 1 Cup Butter Softened
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1 8 oz Pack Cream Cheese
  • 1/4 Cup Butter
  • 2 Cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 3 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Butterscotch Glaze

  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Step One

  • First, we are going to create the dough. Melt 1/2 cup of butter and 1 1/2 cups of milk in a medium saucepan.
  • Remove from heat and cool slightly.
  • Mix 2 1/2 cups of flour, 2 packets of quick rise yeast, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 tsp salt in a mixer bowl. I used my kitchen aid, and used the dough hook attachment.
  • Add 1/2 cup water, 2 eggs, and warm butter/milk mixture to dry ingredients. Make sure to mix it thoroughly & remove all the lumps.
  • Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time. Continue adding the flour until the dough thickens & begins to form a ball.
  • Using a dough hook, or kneed by hand, kneed for 5-10 minutes. I did my dough hook for 5 minutes, then by hand for another 5.
  • Remove dough from mixing bowl, sprinkle some flour in the bowl, and return dough to bowl. Gently sprinkle some flour on top of the dough as well. Cover with saran wrap and let rise for 10 minutes.

Step Two

  • While the dough is rising, let’s create the filling for the cinnamon buns. This one’s a simple step!
  • In a bowl, mix 2 Cups Brown Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon, 1 Cup Butter Softened. Mix it thoroughly. Set aside to use once the dough is ready.

Step Three

  • Set your oven to preheat at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Now it’s time to assemble the rolls! First, find yourself a big surface & generously sprinkle with some flour, so the dough does not stick.
  • Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a long rectangle, or in my case, an oval. The dough should be about 1/2-1 inch thick. Don’t worry too much about the actual shape of your rolled dough. I will say, I found the dough difficult to roll. It liked to bounce back every time I rolled it out. Keep rolling, it will eventually level out.
  • Spread the filling evenly across the whole surface.
  • Starting at a short end, roll the dough into a long roll.
  • Cut long roll into individual rolls. The number will vary based on how thick your dough is & if your ingredients were accurate or not. I managed to make 14 when I made this recipe.
  • Place rolls, swirl down, in a greased 9×13 pan. I only had one of these pans, so I ended up also using a cookie sheet. FYI-this is not ideal, because it allows the buns to spread out while baking. However, it did the trick in a pinch.
  • Melt 1/4 cup butter and drizzle over generously your dough. Let rolls rise for another 30 minutes.
  • Now it’s time to get them in your preheated oven! Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cover loosely with foil and bake another 5-10 minutes. Remember, ovens vary. I found mine cooked pretty quickly and only needed about 12 minutes before I did the foil which only needed about 5 minutes. You want them golden brown, but not crispy. Check them at the 10 minute mark & go from there. Keep in mind that opening the door too often will cause the buns to drop.

Step Four

  • The yummiest part - the toppings! Let’s prepare the toppings while the cinnamon buns are baking & then cooling.
  • We will be using two toppings for this delicious treat.
  • First, let’s start with the butterscotch glaze. In a saucepan, melt together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 4 tbsp butter, and 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream. Bring to a boil and continue for 5 minutes stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tbsp vanilla. Set aside to use shortly.
  • Now let’s make the cream cheese icing! In a saucepan, melt together 1 8 oz pack of cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter. Once that’s melted, add 2 cups powdered sugar and stir. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 3 tbsp whipping cream. Set aside - we’re about to decorate!

Step Five

  • Once the cinnamon rolls are baked, remove from the oven & allow to cool just slightly. We want to enjoy them while they’re warm, after all!
  • Once the cinnamon rolls have cooled a little, using a kitchen brush, glaze the buns in the butterscotch glaze.
  • Then, drizzle the cream cheese frosting over the cinnamon rolls. My cream cheese frosting didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. It didn’t thicken, however, did seem to thicken nicely after I let it cool for a while. If you want thick cream cheese icing, you may want to consider purchasing a tub at the store pre-made. However, my frosting still tasted incredible & I wouldn’t have changed it!
  • YUM! These were well worth the effort & day in the kitchen. They are delicious. I enjoyed them with a “LeFou’s brew” at home, and daydreamed about being in the happiest place on earth!

Notes

Yields: Approx. 12 Cinnamon Buns