1
Make the dough. Mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add milk and egg and mix to a soft dough, then knead until smooth and elastic. Knead in the butter and keep going until fully incorporated. Cover and leave to rise until doubled (about 60 to 90 minutes).Quick proof tip: for a faster rise, place the covered bowl in a sink with a little warm water (bath-warm, not hot).
2
Make the filling. Beat the very soft butter with the light brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves and a pinch of salt to a spreadable paste. Soft, not melted: melted butter runs out of the spiral as the buns bake and pools in the bottom of the tin.
3
Shape. Roll the dough into a rectangle. Spread filling over the surface. Roll up tightly, slice into 12 pieces, and place in a parchment-lined 20 x 30 cm tin, just touching.
4
Second proof + bake. Let the buns rise until puffy and touching (around 60 minutes), then bake at 180°C (160°C fan) for 22 to 27 minutes. Golden on top is not the whole test: twelve buns just touching in a 20 x 30 cm tin are deeper than most, and the middle bun should read about 88°C. If the tops darken before the middles are set, tent with foil and give them another 5 to 8 minutes.
5
Ice. Beat cream cheese and butter smooth, mix in icing sugar, then add espresso, vanilla, salt, and a little lemon juice to taste. Spread over warm buns.