Sourdough Cheesy Wheels

...and our Guest posts continue from JD on with recipes using sourdough starter.  I think these look crazy tasty!!  I bet these would be awesome served at Thanksgiving too. ~Enjoy! Diane


Sourdough Cheesy Wheels

DOUGH
1/2 cup sourdough starter, fed or unfed
3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour or Organic All-Purpose Flour
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespooon sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 large egg
5 tablespoons soft butter
2/3 cup lukewarm water

TOPPING
4 tablespoons melted butter, divided
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon paprika, optional

Instructions
Combine all of the dough ingredients in a large bowl, and mix and knead — using your hands, a stand mixer, or a bread machine set on the dough cycle — to make a soft, smooth dough.
Place the dough in a lightly greased container — an 8-cup measure works well here — and allow the dough to rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until it's just about doubled in bulk.
Gently deflate the dough, and transfer it to a lightly greased work surface.
Roll and pat the dough into a rough rectangle approximately 12" x 16". Put 2 tablespoons melted butter in a small bowl, and add the paprika, if desired; it's there for color, and accentuates the buns' swirl, but omit it if you wish. Spread the dough with the melted butter.
Starting with a long side, roll the dough into a log.
Cut the log in 1" slices, using a sharp knife, or a piece of dental floss looped between your fingers.
Lightly grease two 8" or 9" round cake pans. Arrange 8 buns in each pan.
Cover the pans, and let the buns rise for 60 minutes, until they're noticeably puffy. Don't let these buns rise too long; you want them to have enough rising power left to expand nicely in the oven. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Uncover the pans, and brush each bun with some of the remaining melted butter.
Bake the buns for 22 to 25 minutes; they'll color only slightly.
Remove the buns from the oven, and turn them out of the pan onto a rack. Brush with any remaining melted butter. Serve hot or warm. To reheat, place the buns on a baking sheet, tent lightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 10 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven.
Wrap any leftover buns airtight, and store at room temperature for several days. For longer storage, wrap airtight and freeze.
Yield: 16 buns

Photos by: JD Provence for Canning and Cooking at Home
Recipe Adapted from: King Arthur Flour/JD Provence