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*Prepare the yeast dough.
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Place water in the bowl of your electric mixer, sprinkle with yeast and add sugar, stir until yeast is dissolved.
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Set aside for 10 minutes or until foam and a few bubbles start to form on the surface.
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In a small saucepan, over low heat, warm the milk and butter until butter just melts.
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Temperature of the mixture should not be more than 105u00b0F Add the 105u00b0F butter/milk into the proofed yeast mixture, stir.
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Add eggs and vanilla and mix to combine.
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Add 1 cup of all purpose flour, the cake flour, 1/4 cup of sugar and the 1/2 tsp salt.
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Beat on low speed until smooth and well blended.
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Add 2 cups of the remaining flour and, with your mixer on slow, blend it in to the mixture.
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Slowly add the remaining flour in 1/4 cup increments until the dough forms a smooth, soft (not sticky) ball that comes away from the sides of the bowl.
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It may be necessary to do this last step by hand with a wooden spoon if your mixer is not a heavy duty model.
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If using the heavy duty mixer, install the dough hook and mix until the dough is smooth, about 3 minutes.
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OR, knead by hand for about 5 minutes on a lightly floured board, it should be smooth and will no longer stick to the work surface.
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Transfer the dough to a bowl that's been well buttered, flip it around a couple times to coat all sides of the ball.
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Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place to rise until it's about doubled in size.
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It can also rise overnight in the fridge, but must be allowed to come to room temperature before making crumb buns Using your fist gently punch down the dough to deflate.
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The dough is now ready to form into buns.
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**For the Crumbs.
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While your dough is rising, about 20 minutes before it's done, prepare the crumbs.
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In a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed beat the butter, sugars, salt and vanilla until the mixture is well combined, about one minute.
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Add the flour and sprinkle the cinnamon over the top.
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Combine until mixture just forms a crust.
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**For the buns.
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After punching down the dough, divide it into two portions, cover.
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On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough until it forms a 8x14 inch rectangle about 1/4-inch thick.
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Brush the dough lightly with some melted butter and evenly sprinkle 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture over the buttered surface.
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Starting at the long side furtherest away from you fold 1/3rd of the dough over on itself, brush this surface with melted butter, fold the double layer of dough over again to cover the remaining 1/3rd of the dough that's closest to you.
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You will now have a 3 layered dough that's 14 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide.
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Press gently on the dough so the layers adhere and pinch around the edges to seal.
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Cut the rectangle into 7, 2-inch portions.
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Repeat with second half of dough.
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Butter a 9x13x2-inch baking pan, place the buns 1/2 inch apart in the pan.
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Brush the top of each bun with melted butter and sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the mixture allowing some to fall between.
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Gently press the crumbs into the top of the buns.
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Cover pan with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes or unit the dough looks puffy.
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The buns should NOT be touching.
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Preheat oven to 325u00b0F.
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Remove plastic wrap from the buns and bake for about 40 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the crumbs are slightly firm.
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The buns will have spread into one large pull apart pan of buns.
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Allow to cool on a rack for about 10 minutes.
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With a small sharp knife cut along the sides of the pan and carefully remove buns so as not to disturb crumbs.
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Transfer to a rack to cool, just before serving dust with confectioners sugar.
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Cover and store at room temperature for 2 days.
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To freshen wrap in foil and heat in a 300u00b0F oven until just warm.
