Honey Buns

Today was a wonderful potluck.  I especially love potlucks in the summer, as I know we'll get a full meal (and not just the veggie tray I like to prepare on hot days!).  Today, we decided that since we have about ten days left in our current home, we wanted to use up some of our honey and wheat (because they are heavy to move!), and so came up with this recipe.  We quadrupled it, and they were pretty much gone by the end.

Honey Buns
Dough
1/2 Tbsp yeast
4 Tbsp honey
1 C warmed milk (I used buttermilk today, it was great!)
1 egg
4 Tbsp melted butter
2 tsp vanilla
3.5 C fresh ground whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
Mix together in a mixer.  Mix for about 5 minutes.  You want a good elastic dough.  Use a little more flour if needed to help dough pull away from sides of bowl.  Dough will still be sticky.  If you keep adding until it's not sticky, it will be too dry once baked.  Roll out into rectangle shape, about 1/2" thick.

Filling
1 C dates
1 C hot water
A splash of vanilla if you want it.  I like it.
Let soak til a bit soft.  Blend in blender until a thick puree.  Spread on rolled out dough.  Roll into spiral, cut into slices (12).  Place in buttered 9x13 pan.  Let rise.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes (or until tops are lightly browned).

Topping
4 Tbsp butter
1/2 C honey
1/2 C Sucanat (if you don't have this, brown sugar will work OK). 
A splash of milk.

Simmer on the stove until all combined and melted.  If you use Sucanat, it will probably stay pretty grainy, but it tastes great, so don't worry.  Pour over the top of the hot rolls.  Let cool.  Devour!