Brioche Blueberry Crumble Cream Cheese Buns

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Last night, I tested these buns out for a dinner party with six friends! It's safe to say they were devoured by the end of the night! So even though this recipe isn't completley perfected, I wanted to share it as it's already a favorite amongst my friends!!

I just got back from a trip to Kennebunk, Maine — and if there’s one thing Maine is known for, it’s blueberries. They were everywhere, from blueberry lattes at little coffee shops to wood-fired pizzas topped with them. It felt so charming and unexpected that I couldn’t stop thinking about it on the way home. Now that I’m settling back into my own kitchen, I wanted to bring a bit of that magic into my upcoming fall coffee shop at home that I'll be hosting in a few weeks. These Blueberry Crumble Cream Cheese Buns are my way of capturing the sweetness of Maine mornings, with a cozy twist that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee.

Blueberries may feel like the essence of summer, but when you tuck them into a soft brioche bun with cream cheese and a buttery crumble, they become something that feels just right for fall. The sweetness of the berries balances the tangy cream cheese, while the spiced crumble and drizzle of glaze bring that cozy, autumn-baking feel

This is the type of breakfast bun that makes me daydream about living on the East Coast — coffee in one hand, a pastry in the other, watching the boats drift by on a quiet morning. There’s something about the sweetness of blueberries and the warmth of the crumble that feels like it belongs in a town lined with hydrangea bushes and homes wrapped in white picket fences. A bun like this makes me imagine a backyard shaded with old trees, the kind of space where you’d host slow Sunday brunches and let the seasons shape your days. My dream life, cute.

My fiancé & I in Kennebunk Maine on a brand trip with The Knot to learn all about wedding planning! This was such a dream! I took home wedding planning tips and lots of recipe ideas!!! I love to take inspiration from places I travel!

. These Blueberry Crumble Cream Cheese Buns taste like the perfect in-between season treat — a way to hold onto the brightness of summer fruit while leaning into the warmth and comfort of fall mornings with a cup of coffee.

Pro tip: If you are making 15 buns, bake them separately. I ended up baking one batch on the top rack and one batch on the bottom...I cooked them both for 30 minutes. The batch on top was perfectly cooked but the bottom rack was completley burnt!! If you cook them like this, be sure to be mindful that the bottom rack will probably cook faster than the top rack...

This batch was more of a disaster batch but it taught me many things to help perfect this recipe haha!

Do I have to indent the buns a lot to put the filling in? Will all the filling spill out otherwise?

So I actually (accidentally) tested this one out! I believe my dough was not completley covered while it was rising and I had a fan on in the room. The dough became a bit dry and harder to work with so I was not able to stretch and pull as much as I wanted to. This made it so most of the cream cheese filling was just sitting on top of the bun instead of inside it per say. I thought the filling would spill out, however, it stayed on top of the buns after baking! I was actually quite pleased with the messier look and this even allowed me to add more of the cream cheese filling (which is the best part) to each bun!!

Before baking

After baking! I love when I am able to get a perfectly messy baked good! It feels more homemade & loved

Brioche Dough

• 1 ½ cups warm milk

• 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ⅛ tsp salt

• 1 large egg, room temp

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

• 4–4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (add gradually until dough is soft but not sticky)

Steps:

1. Combine warm milk, yeast, sugar, salt, and egg in a stand mixer bowl.

2. Add flour gradually; knead with dough hook 3–4 minutes.

3. Add butter 1 tbsp at a time, mixing until incorporated.

4. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic (5–8 min).

5. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1–2 hrs until doubled.

6. Divide into 12–15 pieces, shape into smooth balls, and place on a lined tray.

Cream Cheese Filling

• 16 oz cream cheese, softened

• ⅓ cup heavy cream

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

Steps:

1. Beat cream cheese until smooth.

2. Add cream, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar; beat until creamy.

3. Transfer to a piping bag or spoonable bowl.

Crumble Topping

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon

Steps:

1. Stir together until mixture is sandy and crumbly.

2. Rub between fingers if you want finer crumbs.

Assembly

1. Press a well into each dough ball.

2. Pipe or spoon cream cheese filling into the center.

3. Add a handful of fresh (or frozen) blueberries on top.

4. Brush exposed dough with egg wash.

5. Generously sprinkle crumble topping.

Bake

• Bake at 375°F for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and set.

• Let cool at least 15 minutes before glazing.

Powdered Sugar Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream

• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Steps:

1. Whisk sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth and pourable.

2. Drizzle over buns once slightly cooled.

3. For bakery-style finish, do a second drizzle once the first sets.

✨ These buns come out pillowy and rich, with creamy cheesecake centers, bursts of blueberry, a buttery crumble crunch, and that sweet finishing glaze.