Orange and Pistachio Sable

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Sables are one of my favorite types of cookies. This is a great flavor combination thanks to Pamela’s Products. 

INGREDIENTS

215 g flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
227 g unsalted butter
95 g powdered sugar
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
zest of one orange
65 g chopped and roasted pistachios

DIRECTIONS

Whisk together flour and salt and put aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add vanilla and orange zest and mix well.  At low speed, mix in egg white.  Add dry ingredients in three portions mixing on low speed scraping down sides in between additions. Add nuts and mix into dough.

Scrape out dough onto a piece of plastic wrap sprayed with non-stick spray. Shape into a log approximately 12″x12″x2″. Refrigerate for approximately 1-2 hours.  Smoothsides and clean up the shape.  Warp again and leave overnight.

In the morning, unwrap and roll in decorative sugar gently pressing it into the dough. Wrap again and chill for another hour or so.

Preheat oven to 325 F.  Slice dough into 1/4″ slices and place on to cookie sheet lined with parchment or silpat. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Let cool before moving to wire rack.

Fig Marie Bars

Posted on Posted in Bars, cookies, Fig, Uncategorized2 Comments

My neighbor has an awesome fig tree.  There will be a few batches of these. I used the dough from this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

Filling
450 g figs
150 g sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tsp fresh lemon juice

Dough
140 g unsalted butter
110 g light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
30 g honey
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 egg yolks
295 g flour

DIRECTIONS

For the Jam: Cut the stems and peel some of the skin away ( you don’t need to remove all of it). Place them in the bowl of a food processor until mostly smooth. Transfer the figs to a medium sized heavy pot.  Stir in the sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium. Keep stirring until it is a jam-ice consistency.  It will turn brown and begin to fall off the spoon in bigger clumps.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment add butter, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, honey, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix until light and fluffy.

Add egg yolks one at a time and continue to beat until smooth. Sprinkle in the flour and mix until is is just combined.  Form in a ball, flatten into a disc and wrap in plastic.  Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.

Fill piping bag with fig jam. Preheat oven to 350F.

Take out dough and split in half.  On well floured parchment roll out to a 12″ x 12″ square.  Cut into 3″ strips.  Pipe a line of fig jam down the middle of each strip leaving a 1″ border all around.  Refrigerate on baking sheet as you roll out the 2nd sheet on well floured parchment to the same size cut in 3″ strips.  Place one of the 4 strips over the top of the strips with the jam. Press down to seal the sides.

Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes.  Immediately cut each strip into 1″ pieces with a sharp knife.  Transfer then to an covered container.  The cookies with become soft from the steam. Leave for at least 6 hours or overnight to age.

Coffee & Chocolate Breakfast Bread

Posted on Posted in Bread, chocolate, espresso, Uncategorized4 Comments

fullsizeoutput_2f38.jpegChocolate and coffee are best when shared. You just have to make a huge tear & share loaf so you have enough.

INGREDIENTS

Dough
68 g warm water
3 teaspoons yeast
3 tablespoon granulated sugar
120 g warm whole milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 eggs
12 tablespoons butter melted
535 g flour
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling
75g unsalted butter (very soft)
108g brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon espresso powder
pinch of salt

Frosting
2 ounces cream cheese softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk or cream to thin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Warm milk and set aside.  Melt butter and set aside.

Combine warm water, yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Stir until combined and let get foamy for about 4 minutes.

Add the warm milk, salt, eggs and melted butter to the yeast mixture and mix until combined. Gradually mix in the flour, espresso powder, and cocoa powder until the dough comes together. Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Kneed into a smooth ball. Grease a large bowl and add the dough to the bowl. Cover the bowl and let sit for an hour or until it has doubled.

For the filling, add the brown sugar, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt to a bowl and mix well.

Lightly dust a surface with flour. Punch down the dough and roll it into a rectangle about 10 x 22 inches. Spread the butter evenly over the dough. Spread the brown sugar mixture evenly over the butter and gently push it into the butter. Beginning with the long side roll it into a tight log.

Place the log, seam side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using scissors cut diagonal slices almost to the bottom of the log. Arrange the cut sections so that they lean to alternating sides. Gently push the dough together to help compress the log.  Immediately cover the dough and place in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Take the dough out from the fridge and brush with a tablespoon melted butter. Bake the bread for 20-25 minutes.

While the bread is baking, whisk the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla together until smooth. Add milk until your reach desired consistency.

 

 

Spiced Japanese Milk Bread

Posted on Posted in Bread, cinnamon buns, Japanese Milk Bread, Uncategorized2 Comments

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I always struggle a bit with enriched doughs but they always taste great.  This is one of my better ones. I added some of my own spices to this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

Tangzhong
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons unbleached bread flour

Dough
320g unbleached bread flour
1 tablespoon powdered ginger
2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
50g cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1/2 cup scalded whole milk (cooled)
5 whole pieces of star anise
1 large egg
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) melted unsalted butter

Cinnamon-sugar filling
1/2 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1.5 Tbsp. cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

Tangzhong
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, and whisk until no lumps remain.

Place the saucepan over low heat, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and the whisk leaves lines on the bottom of the pan, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Transfer the tangzhong to a small mixing bowl or measuring cup and let it cool to room temperature.

Dough

Place milk and star anise in saucepan scald by storing occasionally and letting the milk use start to foam and boil.  Take it off the heat and let cool.  Scrape off skin and strain out star anise then measure out 1/2 cup.

Combine the tangzhong with the remaining dough ingredients, then mix and knead — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — until a smooth, elastic dough forms.

Shape the dough into a ball, and let it rest in a lightly greased covered bowl for 60 to 90 minutes, until puffy but not necessarily doubled in bulk.

Cinnamon-sugar filling:

Cream the butter with the sugar, and then add the cinnamon. If easier, you can mix the ingredients with your fingers. You will get a moist, chunky/sandy mixture.

Gently deflate the dough, squishing out all the bubbles you can, and pat it out to a 9×15 rectangle.

Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar filling on top of the dough, leaving a one-inch border all around the filling. Pat out the filling so it adheres to the dough. Sprinkle about 1 tsp. water over the filling.

Starting from a short end of the dough, roll up the dough tightly until you get a jellyroll. Pinch the seam closed with your fingers. Place the jellyroll, seam-side down, in a lightly greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.

Cover the loaf and allow it to rest/rise for 40 to 50 minutes, until puffy. Brush the loaf with milk or egg wash and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and a digital thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf reads at least 190°F. Remove the loaf from the oven, and cool it on a rack.

 

Whiskey & Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on Posted in biscuits, chocolate, cookies2 Comments

My friend over at Ritzy Mom blog made a version of these so I decided to make my own. Thanks for the inspiration!

INGREDIENTS

240g flour
220g  rye flour
260g butter, room temperature
250g brown sugar
150g sugar
1 ½ teaspoon coarse salt
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon whiskey
200g chopped bittersweet chocolate
125g chopped walnuts
flaked salt for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS

Add rye flour to a pan and toast it slightly.  Make sure you move it around as it will burn quickly.  Put into a bowl and add the rest of the dry ingredients.

In stand mixer, cream butter and sugars until well combined.  Add eggs one at a time and then vanilla and whiskey.

Add the flour until just combined.  Fold in the chopped chocolate chunks and nuts by hand. Refrigerate overnight or for a few hours.

When ready to bake preheat oven to 350 F. Line cookie sheets with silpat or parchment.

Using a small ice cream scoop place the cookies about two inches apart on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with a bit of flaked salt.  Cook for about 15-18 minutes.

Chocolate & Coffee Sandwich Cookies

Posted on Posted in biscuits, chocolate, cookies, espresso4 Comments

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They are kinda like grown-up Oreos.

Cookies
190 g flour
75 g cocoa, extra dark
2 tablespoons powdered espresso
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
315 g sugar
142 g unsalted butter
1 large egg, room temperature

Filling
113 g unsalted butter, room temperature
95 g shortening
350 g powdered sugar
50 g cocoa powder, extra dark
1 tablespoon powdered espresso
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Into a medium-size bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg; beat to combine. With mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture; continue beating until dough is well combined.

Measure out 15 g size drops of dough and roll them into a ball.   Place them about 2 inches apart. Flatten them with a glass to about 1/8 inch thick.  Be gentle as you peel it off the glass.

Bake until cookies are firm, about 10 to 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through.  I also like to drop the cookie sheet on the counter so that they deflate and crack. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool completely.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and shortening until well combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar, and cocoa. Continue beating until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, and beat to combine. Set aside in a pastry bag at room temperature until ready to use. Pipe about a teaspoon on each and flatten with cookie on top to make a sandwich.

 

 

 

Pear & Fragipane Tart

Posted on Posted in Frangipane, Pear, Uncategorized2 Comments

Mondays were made for pâte sucrée. A little overdone but color = flavor!

INGREDIENTS

Tart Shell
121 g powdered sugar
190 g unsalted butter
2 eggs (75 g)
1 vanilla bean
279 g plain flour
70 g cornstarch
2 g salt

Filling

2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 1⁄2 cups raw unblanched whole almonds, finely ground
2⁄3 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon almond liquor
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1⁄4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
2 pears, peeled, quartered and cored
1/3 cup apricot jam

DIRECTIONS

Grease fluted pie plate with butter and set aside.

In a bowl, add flour, cornstarch, and salt and stir until combined.  Set aside.

Using stand mixer with paddle attachment cream sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time until evenly combined.

Slice vanilla been in half and scrape out and add to butter sugar mixture.

Add the flour mixture to stand mixer and on a low speed, mix until just combined then use a spatula to ensure flour is mixed in.

Transfer to parchment paper, flatten into a disk and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Roll out dough to 13×13 sq and press into greased, fluted pie pan. Leave the dough hanging over and trim after baking. Prick base and freeze for 10 minutes.

Line pastry with parchment paper/aluminum foil.  Fill with pie weights and bake for 20 minutes. Remove paper/foil and then bake for 5 min more. Remove from oven and let cool while making filling.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and cook until golden brown. Remove and let cool. In a bowl, stir together the ground almonds, sugar, eggs, almond liquor and vanilla extract, salt, lemon zest and melted butter. Spread evenly in the tart shell. Slice each pear quarter crosswise into slices 1/8 inch thick, keeping each one together. Lift using an offset spatula and place where desired on top of filling.

Bake the tart until the filling is firm to the touch in the center and slightly golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cover sides of crust with foil of browning too quickly.

Warm jam in a small saucepan over low heat until it liquefies. Pour through a sieve over a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the top of the tart with a thin coating of jam when it comes out of the oven.

Chocolate Espresso Shortbread

Posted on Posted in Uncategorized1 Comment

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They are small, simple, and utterly delicious.

INGREDIENTS

255 grams salted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
100 grams granulated sugar
50 grams light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
295 grams flour
2 tablespoons espresso powder
170 grams semi- or bittersweet dark chocolate, chopped in chunks
Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS

Beat the butter, granulated and brown sugars, and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl as needed. Add flour and espresso powder, and mix just until combined. Add chocolate chunks, mix just until incorporated. Mixture will look crumbly.

Divide between two sheets of parchment paper, waxed paper, or plastic wrap and use your hands to form the dough halves into log shapes about 2 to 2 1/4 inches in diameter. Chill until totally firm, about 2 hours in refrigerator or 1 hour in freezer.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line one or two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a sharp knife, cut logs into 1/2-inch thick rounds. You’re going to hit some chocolate chunks, so go fast.  Arrange cookie slices on prepared sheets and sprinkle each with a few flakes of salt. They don’t spread too much, so you can gang up a lot of them. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to get golden brown. Let cool slightly before transferring to a rack to cool.

Micro’s Lamingtons

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Micro loves anything from Australia so I thought I’d make these.  I worked with this recipe from eatlittlebird.com

INGREDIENTS

Cake
185 g flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
40 g cornstarch
200 g unsalted butter, room temperature
230 g sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs, room temperature
125 ml whole milk, room temperature

Icing
500 g powdered sugar
200 g bittersweet chocolate
15 g unsalted butter
125 ml milk
325 g desiccated coconut

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Butter a 7″ x 10″ inch baking dish and line the bottom with parchment paper.

Sift flour, baking powder and cornstarch into a bowl and set aside. Cream butter and sugar in stand mixer.  Add eggs one at a time and mix well. Add vanilla.

Add half the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and fold in gently.  Gently stir in half the milk. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and fold gently.  Then add the rest of the milk and stir gently.

Pour in prepared dish and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

After 5 minutes, turn out cake upside down and let cool on wire rack. Using a serrated knife, cut the sponge into even squares. Freeze cake for an hour.

For the chocolate icing, ,melt the butter and chocolate over low heat in a double-boiler.

Add the powdered sugar and whisk in the milk until you have a thick, but slightly runny, mixture.

To assemble, pour the dessicated coconut onto a large plate.

Using two forks, dip a piece of sponge into the chocolate icing mixture, making sure that all sides are coated, and allow any excess icing to drain off.

Then roll the chocolate-coated sponge in the dessicated coconut, and place the lamington on a wire rack to dry.

Let them lamingtons sit on a wire rack for about 30-60 minutes.

Brioche Burger Buns

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More hamburger buns but this time, using a brioche dough. Because butter is always better. Thanks to The Spruce Eats for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

For the Starter:

2/3 cup milk (lukewarm, about 85 F)
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (3 1/4 ounces)
3 tablespoons sugar

For the Dough:

3 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (14 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 large eggs (lightly beaten)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (4 ounces, at room temperature)
1 teaspoon oil
1 tablespoon cornmeal

For the Egg Wash:

1 large egg
1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the milk and yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Add the 3/4 cup of flour and the 3 tablespoons of sugar. With the paddle attachment, mix the sponge until you have a smooth batter.

Remove the beater, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let stand for about 30 minutes or until you see bubbles over the surface of the dough.

With the dough hook, mix in the 3 cups plus 2 tablespoons of flour, the salt, and the 4 beaten eggs. Once the dough is formed, knead with the dough hook for about 4 minutes. Scrape the bowl down a few times.

Add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time. Continue kneading with the machine, scraping the bowl from time to time, for about 5 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and shiny.

Oil a large bowl with olive oil or vegetable oil.

Using a bowl scraper or spoon, scrape the dough into the oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.

Punch the dough down; fold over a few times.

Cover with plastic wrap again and let rise for 45 minutes.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, shape into balls. Flour your palm and flatten the balls to make thick disks.

Arrange the rolls on the parchment-lined pan. Cover with a lightweight kitchen towel and let them rest for 20 minutes.

Heat the oven to 400 F.

Sprinkle the tops of the buns with a little cornmeal, then gently turn them over so the cornmeal dusting is on the bottom.

Combine one large egg with one tablespoon of water; whisk to blend well.

Brush the egg mixture gently over each roll. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, if desired.

Bake for 7 minutes at 400 F.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F and bake for 10 to 12 minutes longer until golden brown.