Prepare the Dough

Begin your blueberry cream cheese buns journey by activating the yeast. In a large mixing bowl, combine the active dry yeast with 1 teaspoon of sugar and ¼ cup of lukewarm milk. This crucial step ensures your dough will rise properly, creating those wonderfully soft and airy buns. Allow this mixture to sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy and fragrant – this indicates that your yeast is alive and ready to work its magic.

Once your yeast mixture is activated, add the remaining ingredients for the dough: flour, remaining sugar, salt, the rest of the lukewarm milk, egg, vanilla extract, and softened butter. Using either a stand mixer with a dough hook or your hands, knead the mixture for 5-7 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should feel slightly tacky but not sticky – this texture is key to achieving the perfect cream cheese blueberry buns.

Transfer your beautifully kneaded dough to a well-oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place in a warm, draft-free location. Allow the dough to rise for approximately 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. This first rise develops the flavor and creates the tender crumb that makes these buns so special.

Shape the Buns

Once your dough has completed its first rise, gently punch it down to release the built-up gases. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces – using a kitchen scale ensures uniformity, which results in evenly baked blueberry cream cheese buns.

Shape each portion into a smooth ball by gently stretching the dough and tucking the edges underneath. Place these shaped buns on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring adequate spacing between each bun to allow for expansion during the second rise.

Cover the shaped buns with a clean kitchen towel and let them rest for 15-20 minutes. During this time, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). This second rise, though shorter, is essential for achieving the light, fluffy texture that characterizes exceptional cream cheese blueberry pastries.

Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling

While your buns are completing their second rise, prepare the luscious cream cheese filling that sets these pastries apart. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Using a whisk or electric mixer, blend these ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps.

The key to perfect cream cheese filling is ensuring all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing. This prevents lumps and creates a silky, pipeable consistency. Transfer your finished filling to a piping bag fitted with a plain tip – this method ensures clean, professional-looking blueberry cream cheese buns.

Assemble the Buns

Now comes the exciting part – assembling your blueberry cream cheese buns! Using the bottom of a flour-dusted glass or your thumb, create a well in the center of each risen bun. Be gentle but firm, creating a depression that will hold the cream cheese filling without completely flattening the bun.

Pipe the cream cheese filling generously into each well, allowing it to mound slightly above the surface. Top each filled well with fresh blueberries, pressing them gently into the cream cheese to secure them during baking.

Brush the exposed edges of each bun with beaten egg – this egg wash creates the beautiful golden-brown finish that makes these cream cheese blueberry buns so visually appealing.

Bake

Place your assembled buns in the preheated 350°F (180°C) oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the filling is set. The buns should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom, and the cream cheese filling should be lightly golden but not browned.

Remove the baked blueberry cream cheese buns from the oven and immediately transfer them to a wire cooling rack. This prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy and allows for even cooling.

Finish and Serve

Once your buns have cooled slightly but are still warm, dust them generously with powdered sugar for the final elegant touch. Serve these magnificent blueberry cream cheese buns while they’re still warm for the ultimate experience – the contrast between the warm, soft bread and the cool, creamy filling is absolutely divine.