And Now, it is Christmas

 It seems like we went from Thanksgiving to Christmas in a very short time! I've always enjoyed these seasons for the times with family and friends. And the food, of course, the food. Many of the Thanksgiving favorites are also Christmas favorites, so if you didn't get enough of some or missed trying some new recipes, there is still time. 

Our Thanksgiving turkey was prepared by my daughter, and she spatchcocked it. This drastically reduced the amount of time it took to roast the turkey and it was tender and moist. This method basically butterflies the bird. It disposes of the backbone so the bird can be flattened and cooked skin side up. More surface is available for even browning and with a high cooking temperature that means crackly, crispy skin. She also inserted butter and herbs under the skin making it very moist and flavorful. That might be something you want to try for Christmas dinner. 

A 'nibble tray/cheese board/charcuterie board keep us munching before the meal was ready and while we waited for the youngest grand to wake up from her nap. Nuts, dried fruit, grapes, crackers, and cheese curds (from Alma Cheese - made in Kansas!) made a colorful selection. 



We actually had 3 Thanksgiving dinners and I took the same dish to each! Luckily everyone liked Creamed Corn and it was easy to transport in a slow cooker. Do you know that some newer vehicles even have an electrical outlet - you can cook and drive at the same time! 






No Thanksgiving (or Christmas dinner) is complete without something topped with cream cheese frosting. I made pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for one dinner. The recipe made enough frosting after covering the dozen cupcakes that I saved it for a shared supper when I took Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Icing.


PUMPKIN CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients: 

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

½ cup canola oil

2 large eggs

¾ cup packed dark brown sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. 

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl. Set aside. 

Whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin, and vanilla extract together until combined. 

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a mixer or shisk untiul completely combined. Batter will be thick. 

Pour/spoon the batter into the liners, filling only 2/3 full. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. 

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

8 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature

½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 

3 cups powdered sugar + an extra ¼ cup if needed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions: 

In a large bowl using a mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and cream. Add 3 cups powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add extra sugar if needed to make frosting a little thicker. 

GINGERBREAD BARS WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

¾ cup butter                                

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ cups molasses

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

1 ¼ teaspoons ginger

¾ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon salt

3 ¾ cups flour

1 ½ cups hot water

Instructions:

In mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar; beat in eggs; mix in molasses.

In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and ground cloves. 

Mix flour mixture into the creamed mixture until well combined.

Slowly mix in hot water. 

Spread batter into a large cookie sheet with high sides, bake in a pre-heated oven at 325 degrees for 30-45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean and cake has slightly pulled away from the edges of the pan. 

When cool, spread with cream cheese icing. 

I hope you're as excited for Christmas as I am - for the family and friend times, but also for the food. What new recipes have you tried? 

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

I have a confession to make. This Thanksgiving I did not make a pumpkin pie. Not. One. Even with 3 Thanksgiving family dinners. Pumpkin is a favorite flavor with our family and we have many ways of serving it. But this year instead of the pumpkin pie, I did this Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake - ohh, way better! 
A cheese cake is such an indulgent dessert that it is usually saved for special occasions. Not only is it rich in fat and calories, but also requires more care and steps to make than many desserts. There are some tips that I've gathered for a successful cheesecake:
* Use full-fat cream cheese. I usually try to cut the calories by getting the lower fat versions, and for many things that works. But for cheesecake, you want the regular full-fat. 
* The crumb crust is best mixed in a food processor. I like to use the processor for making the crumbs and then for combining the crust ingredients. Press into the springform pan with a custard cup using the straight sides and flat bottom for form a smooth crust. 
* Mix the cream cheese and sugar well, they should become very creamy and add some air for volume. But after the eggs are added just mix enough to incorporate the ingredients, overbeating can make the cheesecake tough. 
* Having all ingredients at room temperature before beginning makes them combine more quickly and evenly, so you're less likely to overmix or have lumps. 
* Baking with a water bath, either a pan of hot water that the springform pan sits in or a pan of hot water on the rack below the cheesecake will make the cheesecake a more moist product and be less likely to crack. 
* For food safety, check the internal temperature with a food thermometer at the end of baking. The cheesecake is done when the internal temperature is 150 degrees. 

I think you'll enjoy this cheesecake, it will work for a Christmas as well as Thanksgiving dessert. 

PUMPKIN SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Gingersnap Cookie Crust Ingredients:

1 ½ cups gingersnap cookie crumbs

¼ teaspoon each: ground ginger and ground cinnamon

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

¼ cup granulated sugar

Cheesecake Ingredients: 

Four 8-ounce blocks full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup full-fat sour cream, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Instructions:

Adjust oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Make the Crust: With a food processor, pulse the gingersnap cookies into crumbs. Measure 1 ½ cups crumbs and add back to food processor and pulse with ginger, cinnamon, sugar, and melted butter until combined. The mixture will resemble sand. Press firmly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan. (the pan doesn’t need to be greased). Prebake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly as you prepare the filling. 

Make the Filling: Using a handheld or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on the medium-high speed in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract, then beat until fully combined. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until just blended. Avoid over mixing. 

Scoop out 2 cups of batter and place in a medium mixing bowl. Stir the pumpkin, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice into this until combined. Begin adding spoonsfuls of each batter, the plain and the pumpkin, on top of the crust. Alternate until all the batter is used and pan is filled. Using a toothpick or knife, swirl the batters together by dragging the toothpick from top to bottom, then left to right. 

Bake in a simple water bath by placing the foil wrapped springform pan in a large roasting pan with about 1 inch of boiling water in it. Or place the pan of water on the rack beneath the rack the cheesecake will sit on. 

Bake the cheesecake for 55-70 minutes or until the center is almost set. If it seems to be browning too quickly, tent the top with foil. The cheesecake is done when the internal temperature measured with a food thermometer is 150 degrees. The center will slightly wobble if you gently shake the pan. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven for 1 hour as it cools. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before serving. Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean and dip into warm water between each slice. Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator. 

The spoonfuls of batter are added...

and swirled. 

Mini-Monsters

Monster Cookies seemed like a good baking project for Halloween. They're always a hit, soft and chewy and filled with sweet treats and no tricks. My recipe originally was for 12 large cookies, I prefer smaller cookies (some portion control but I think my family just eats more). I doubled the recipe and the result was about 4 dozen medium sized cookies. One dozen for our mini-monsters who came to trick or treat, two dozen in the freezer for a baked sale next week, and a dozen or so for munching.

Our mini-monsters this year were a LadyBug and Spooky Pookie. Spooky Pookie is wearing the ghost cape I made for her mother 30+ years ago. Traditions continue and LadyBug's mother crafted her shell with paper mâché. We're glad these little treaters live close!

MONSTER COOKIES                                               

1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
1 ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salty
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup M&Ms (save some for adding to the tops of the cookie balls before baking)

(This is a stiff dough, somewhat hard to mix the chocolate chips and M&Ms into. I used some leftover bits of trail mix - chocolate chips, shredded cocoanut, small nut pieces - for part of the chocolate chips)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the baking rack in the center position.
2. In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment cream the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Cream for about 3-5 minutes for a light cookie.
3. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Mix on medium speed just until these ingredients are incorporated.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and quick oats.
5. Add these dry ingredients to the batter and mix until incorporated. Do not over mix.
6. With a rubber spatula fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
7. Use a cookie scoop (large/3 Tablespoons size for big monster cookies) to form dough mounds.
8. Top each dough mound with a few more M&M's for a nice appearance after baking.
9. Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven when the edges are set and the centers may look slightly underbred. They will continue to bake and set on the hot cookie sheet. Allow to cool before removing them from the cookies sheet.

Apple Pie Bars

Easy as Apple Pie? I've never thought a pie was easy! But I did find this recipe to be a tasty treat for a group refreshments and similar to the taste of apple pie. Two pans made ample servings for 30 people with a salute to back-to-school traditions of an apple for the teacher. I used a mixture of Honey Crisp and Fuji apples.

Apples have many traditions and lore. Since fall is often the harvest time for apples they are a natural for fall flavors. There have been stories and lore of apples from the beginning of time - Genesis story of the forbidden apple, poison apples in fairy tales, and  for the teacher.  The tradition of Apple for the Teacher begin in Denmark and Sweden when poor families would 'pay' the teacher in apples and potatoes (and we think teachers' wages are low now!).

The only apple native to North America is the crab apple, so that makes me especially glad that Johnny Appleseed started the movement that now gives us 2500 varieties to select from.

APPLE PIE BARS

Crust Ingredients:
cooking spray
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp. kosher salt

Filling Ingredients:
6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
juice of ½ lemon
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ tsp. kosher salt

Topping Ingredients:
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup packed brown sugar (I lightened this, used ⅔ cup)
½ tsp. kosher salt
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, melted
caramel, for serving

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9"x13" pan with parchment then grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and mix until just combined.
2. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until lightly golden, 20 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, toss apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together. Spread apples over crust.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until coarse clumps form.
5. Sprinkle crumb topping over apples and bake until top is golden and apples are soft, about 1 hour.
6. Let cool at least 15 minutes then slice into squares and drizzle with caramel before serving.

Looks good even on a paper plate!

Mulled Spiced Apple Cider Crisp Loaves - NFOB

National Festival of Breads photo

This recipe from the National Festival of Breads contest combines favorite fall flavors for a cozy, all-American dessert bread that will be a family favorite here. 
This recipe by Tiffany Aaron of Arkansas was a finalist in the division of Home Baker. Try it and see if you don't think it reminds you of apple crisp and cinnamon rolls. 
I made it last week and it didn't last long! One loaf for home and one loaf to go to a quilt retreat. It was very popular!

Ingredients

Mulled Spiced Cider

• 8 whole green cardamom pods
• 8 whole cloves
• 4 whole star anise
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, diced
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened apple juice
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup

Dough

• 1 cup warm 2% milk (110°F – 115°F)
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 (¼ ounce) packages RED STAR® Platinum Superior Baking Yeast®
• 1 large egg, beaten
• ½ cup mashed apple, reserved from cider
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups KING ARTHUR® Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 ½ – 3 cups KING ARTHUR® Unbleached Bread Flour
• 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
• 1 teaspoon salt

Filling & Topping

• 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans, divided
• 2 tablespoons KING ARTHUR® Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• ½ cup butter, softened

Glaze

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 6 tablespoons mulled spiced cider

Directions

1. For mulled spiced cider: Place cardamom, cloves, and anise in a spice bag and securely tie. In medium saucepan, combine spice bag, cinnamon sticks, apple, apple juice and syrup. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer on low 10 minutes. Remove apple, drain well and mash. Reserve mulled spiced cider.
2.  In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook, combine milk, brown sugar and yeast; wait 10 minutes for mixture to foam (proof). Stir in egg, mashed apple and butter.
3. Mix in all-purpose flour, 2 cups bread flour, apple pie spice and salt. Gradually add enough remaining bread flour to form a soft dough; knead 10 minutes. Transfer dough to greased bowl. Cover; let rise until doubled.
4. For filling: In medium bowl, stir together oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, melted butter and ½ cup pecans.
5. For topping: Measure ½ cup of filling and place in separate bowl. Stir in remaining pecans and flour.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 15” x 24” rectangle. Spread softened butter on dough leaving ½” border; sprinkle on filling. Starting on 24” side, tightly roll. Cut into two 12” logs; place seam-side down on parchment-lined baking sheets.
7.  Cut each log into twelve 1” slices, leaving slices slightly connected at the bottom. Lay each slice to the side, cut-side up, alternating left and right. Sprinkle on topping. Cover; let rise 30 minutes.
8. Near the end of the rise, preheat oven to 375°F. Bake 25 – 30 minutes. Rotate pan and tent bread with foil after 15 minutes. Bread is done when golden and internal temperature registers about 200°F.
9. Whisk together glaze ingredients and drizzle on warm loaves.                           (My glaze was thinner and more transparent than the one shown in the NFOB photo. I liked being able to see the shape and color of the loaf). 

Yield

2 loaves, 12 servings each.

Here are the photos of my work with the recipe:

The loaves are rolled and cut. Each section is twisted
in an opposite direction. 

The dough had a good rise and made a
good sized loaf. 

It browned quickly. Be sure to use parchment paper under it
and tent it with foil after 15 minutes. 

This recipe is going to be one of my favorites!
I can't wait to make it again. 

Tart Cherry, Pecan and Rosemary Boule - NFOB

National Festival of Breads photo

"This is a perfect introductory artisan style bread with unique flavors that will leave the baker feeling that they really made something special", said Kristin Hoffman of Chicago. Her entry in the National Festival of Breads was the next recipe I made from the collection of this summer's contest.

"Boule" is defined as (1) a metal ball used in the French game of boules, or (2) a round loaf of crusty bread. Indeed the finished loaf did look like a squashed ball, but luckily was very tasty. The traditional boule is often a sourdough bread but for this recipe we use the sponsor company Red Star's yeast.

Ingredients

Dough

• 1 ¼ cups KING ARTHUR® Premium 100% Whole Wheat Flour
• 3 cups, minus 1 ½ tablespoons KING ARTHUR® Unbleached Bread Flour
• 1 2/3 cups water
•  ¾ cup finely chopped toasted pecans
• 1 cup finely chopped dried tart cherries
• 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 1 (¼ ounce) package RED STAR® Platinum Superior Baking Yeast®
• 2 tablespoons warm water (110°F – 115°F)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 – 3 tablespoons white rice flour, for dusting

Directions

Kristin blogs under the name Baker Bettie

1. Combine in large mixing bowl whole wheat flour, bread flour and 1 2/3 cups water. Stir until shaggy and sticky. Do not add extra flour. Cover bowl with greased plastic wrap; let set for 30 minutes.
2. Sprinkle pecans, cherries, rosemary and salt over dough.
3. In small bowl, whisk yeast and 2 tablespoons warm water together. Stir yeast and honey into dough. Incorporate ingredients by stretching andfolding the dough over itself. Gently knead dough in bowl 3 – 4 minutes. The dough remains sticky but avoid adding more flour. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes.
4. To fold dough: Moisten hand, reach underneath the dough, and pull up until you feel resistance. Fold it over top of dough. Turn bowl slightly, making one full turn, to form a tightened ball. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature 1 hour.
5. Dust a round 9-inch banneton basket thoroughly with rice flour. Alternatively, line a bowl with a non-terry kitchen towel dusted with flour. Moisten hand, gently perform another round of folds to form a tightened ball, without deflating the dough. Pinch seam together. Place hand over top of seam and invert bowl; transfer dough to basket, seam-side up. Cover with greased plastic wrap; let rise 60 – 90 minutes.
6. Position oven racks in center and bottom. Place baking stone on bottom rack and preheat oven to 425°F for a minimum of 1 hour. To check if loaf is finished rising: press finger in dough, ½-inch deep. If dough springs back immediately it needs extra time. If dough springs back slowly, loaf is ready.
7. Gently tip the dough out onto a piece of parchment. Score top with a lame or very sharp knife in a tic-tac-toe slash or cross-hatch pattern.
8. Transfer dough on parchment and place into a cold, 4-quart Dutch oven. Cover with lid and bake on center rack 35 minutes. Remove lid and bake 5 – 15 minutes, until crust is dark and crispy and internal temperature is 200°F – 205°F. Cool on rack before slicing.

Yield

1 large loaf, 20 servings.

The following photos are my process:

Adding pecans, cherries, rosemary and salt to the dough.

After folding in the ingredients, the dough rises
in a towel lined bowl. 

The bread is baked on parchment in a dutch oven.

After baking it is dark and crispy. 

The process made a yummy hearty bread. 

Chai Ube Rosette Rolls - NFOB

National Festival of Breads photo

Baking for others is a special kind of friendship, and baking with others is also special. At a recent friends weekend gathering my quilting friends and I not only enjoyed visiting several quilt shops, but also a wonderful brunch, a piano duet recital, 3 movies, and baking these Chai Ube Rolls. 
I was anxious to try this recipe with the ube - purple sweet potato - but haven't found it in our stores yet. But luckily our Denver friend found it and we enjoyed the ube in these rolls as well as for a side dish with one dinner. Orange sweet potatoes may be substituted for the purple ube. 
The shaping of these rolls is wonderful. I will try this with other doughs. Three circles are overlapped and rolled, then cut in two. This makes two rosettes that shape out beautifully as they rise. RaChelle Hubsmith of Utah was the champion winner in the Home Baker Division and Public Choice Award winner with this recipe. 

Chai Ube Rosette Rolls                      

Our finished rolls

Ingredients

Dough

• 1 cup boiled and mashed Ube purple yam (about 2 medium)
• ¼ cup warm water (110°F – 115°F)
• 2 (¼ ounce) packages RED STAR® Platinum Superior Baking Yeast®
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ¾ cup whole milk
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch ground black pepper
• 1 large egg
• 4 – 4 ½ cups KING ARTHUR® Unbleached Bread Flour

Topping

• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ cup honey
• Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Directions

1. Wash yams. In saucepan, cook yams in water until tender, drain, remove skin and mash. Set aside to cool.
2. In small bowl, whisk together warm water, yeast and sugar. Wait 5 – 10 minutes for mixture to proof.
3. In small saucepan, warm milk on medium-low until scalded (180°F). Stir in butter until melted. Pour into bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Mix in brown sugar, mashed yam, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, cloves and black pepper. Mix in egg and yeast mixture until combined.
4. Exchange whisk attachment for dough hook. Gradually beat in flour until a soft dough forms. Knead 10 minutes. Transfer dough to large greased bowl. Cover; let rise until doubled.
5. Deflate dough. On floured work surface, roll dough into 24” x 18” rectangle. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
6. Using 3 ½” round cutter or wide mouth canning jar ring, cut 36 circles. Place 3 circles in a vertical row, slightly overlapping edges. Starting on short side, roll up dough and seal edges. Make one vertical cut in center to form 2 rosettes. Place each in well-greased, 12-cup muffin tins. Repeat with remaining circles. Re-roll scraps. Cover rosettes with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
7. Near the end of the rise, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 12 – 15 minutes. Remove rolls to a rack to cool.
8. To make topping: Soften butter and stir in honey. Brush over warm rolls. Garnish with mint leaves.

Here is the process we did: 

dough is rolled out

rounds are cut - isn't this a pretty pink color? 

shaped, ready to rise

after the rise, ready to bake

baked, ready for the glaze

Beetroot Amaretto Rolls - NFOB

                      

     Here's another top recipe from the National Festival of Breads. The finalists recipes are all show-stoppers and winners to make it to the contest held in Manhattan by the Kansas Wheat Commission. This recipe, by Shauna Havey of Utah won the People's Choice Award. Those votes were by Facebook shares and likes during the week before the contest. 
     The sponsor for the People's Choice Award was John Deere. Other major sponsors, besides the Kansas Wheat Commission, were Red Star Yeast and King Arthur Flour. 

     The contestants create original recipes that not only taste good, they are beautiful and unique. One of the fun parts is seeing how they use different ingredients. But that's also one of the hard parts as some of these things are not sold in my local grocery store. So I shopped in a bigger store in a bigger town for fresh beets and almond paste. Luckily there is enough of each of those now stored in my freezer for 2 more preparations of this recipe. And I'll admit, I did a couple of substitutions - I used whole milk instead of almond milk (yea, dairy producers) and bread flour for the almond flour in the filling. I didn't have turbinado sugar, so I used the Swedish pearl sugar left from a previous NFOB recipe I tried. Turbinado sugar is defined as a lighter, less refined brown sugar so my product didn't have the molasses hint that would come from Turbinado sugar. 
    I was surprised at how easy these rolls were to shape. Putting the filled and rolled dough in the freezer for 10 minutes seemed to make them easier to work with when twisting into the wreath form. I did weigh the dough when dividing it so the rolls were a uniform size. Each roll was 2.3 oz and somehow I got 13 instead of 12! 

BEETROOT AMARETTO ROLLS  

photo from National Festival
of Breads June 2019

Filling

• 2 medium fresh beets
• 1/3 cup (3.5 ounces) almond paste
• 2 tablespoons KING ARTHUR® Almond Flour
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg white
• ¼ cup finely chopped sliced almonds, divided

Dough

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (110°F – 115°F)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 (¼ ounce) package RED STAR® Platinum Superior Baking Yeast®
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons instant nonfat dry milk
• 3 ½ – 3 ¾ cups KING ARTHUR® Unbleached Bread Flour

Egg wash & Topping

• 1 large egg white, plus 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

Directions

1. To roast beets: Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse beets well; trim stems leaving 2 inches. Wrap in foil and place on rimmed baking sheet, roast 1 hour or until fork tender. Cool slightly, remove skin, and mash.
2. For filling: In bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade, crumble almond paste. Pulse 4 ½ ounces (2/3 cup) beets, almond flour, sugar, salt, butter, vanilla and egg white until a thick puree. Cover and refrigerate.
3. For dough: Combine warm almond milk, sugar and yeast; let proof 5 minutes.
4. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle, mix butter, egg, almond extract, vanilla, salt, dry milk and yeast mixture. 
5. Exchange paddle for dough hook; gradually stir in enough flour until soft dough is formed. Knead on low speed 7 minutes. Transfer dough to greased bowl. Cover; let rise 1 hour.
6. Deflate dough; scale into 12 equal pieces. Roll each into 12” x 3” rectangle. Spread 1 rounded tablespoon filling on dough almost to edges, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon almonds.
7. Starting from long end, roll each into a log. Place logs on cookie sheet; cover and place in freezer 10 minutes. With seam-side down, cut log in half lengthwise. With cut-sides up, starting in center, twist together. Shape into a wreath; pinch ends together and seal.
8. Place rolls on two 12” x 18” parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving 2” between each roll. Cover; let rise until almost doubled. Near the end of the rise, preheat oven to 350°F.
9. Whisk egg white with water and brush on rolls. Sprinkle on almonds and turbinado sugar. Bake 18 – 20 minutes, until lightly golden and internal temperature is 190°F – 195°F. Remove rolls to rack and cool.

Yield 12

This shows the steps in shaping:
1 (top) - dough weighed
2 - rolled to about 3" x 12"
3 - spread with filling
4 - rolled into a long log shape

After shaping and rising, these rolls are
ready to bake. 

Peanut Butter Pretzel Rolls from NFOB

Photo by National Festival of Breads

National Festival of Breads contest always brings forth new and interesting recipes to try. While I'm still collecting ingredients for some of them, today I baked the Peanut Butter Pretzel Rolls presented by Suzy Neal of Georgia. Suzy says these are a good treat with jelly, like a PB&J. This was my first time to use powdered peanut butter but I have several ideas for other uses now. Since I was making these to take to a covered dish (lots of foods to taste), I sized the rolls down to a 1.5 ounce dough ball instead of the 3 ounce size of the recipe. This still made a nice size roll, be sure to reduce the baking time to about 17 minutes.

Here is Suzy preparing her recipe with completed rolls.

PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL ROLLS

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 cups warm water (110°F – 115°F)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 (¼ ounce) package RED STAR® Platinum Superior Baking Yeast®
• ½ cup powdered peanut butter*
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus 2 teaspoons
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 5 – 5 ¼ cups KING ARTHUR® Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Boiling Solution

• 10 cups water
• ½ cup baking soda

Topping

• 1 large egg yolk plus 2 teaspoons water
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped roasted salted peanuts
• 1 – 1 ½ teaspoons KING ARTHUR® Pretzel Salt

Directions

1. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook, combine water, honey and yeast; let proof 5 minutes.
2. Mix in powdered peanut butter, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, butter and salt. Gradually add enough flour to form a soft dough that pulls away from sides of bowl. 
3. Knead dough with hook 3 – 4 minutes to form a smooth dough. Grease large bowl with 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Place dough in bowl, turning to coat. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled. 
4. Preheat oven to 400°F. Deflate dough and turn out on floured work surface. Scale 3-ounce pieces of dough; shape into smooth rolls. Place rolls on a greased 12” x 18” pan or lined with nonstick baking mat. 
5. In 4-quart or larger Dutch oven, combine water and baking soda, bring to a boil. Boil 3 rolls at a time for 40 – 45 seconds, turning occasionally. Use slotted spoon to remove rolls to pan. 
6. Using a sharp knife, cut ¼” deep “X” in the top of rolls. Beat together egg yolk and water; brush on rolls. Sprinkle on peanuts and salt. 
7. Bake on middle rack of oven 20 – 25 minutes until dark golden brown and internal temperature is 205°F – 210°F. Remove rolls to a rack and cool. Serve with butter and jam.

I weighed (scaled) the dough balls to make the rolls
a uniform size.

¼ inch slash across the top with a lame blade.

sprinkled with chopped peanuts and Kosher salt

Ready to go.

Blackberry Ginger Speculaas Danish Wreath - NFOB

Merry baked the wining entry in the
Food Blogger division! 

If you love the smell of break baking, like getting new recipes, looking at kitchen gadgets, visiting with friends, and watching presentations about all sorts of baking, then the National Festival of Breads was the place to be last week. And I was lucky enough to be there assisting a finalist in her temporary kitchen in the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. 

It really is a fun and inspiring event. Eight finalists chosen from hundreds of submitted orginal recipes across the U.S. came to Kansas to learn more about wheat farming and milling and bake their entry for judges. Sponsored by the Kansas Wheat Commission with support from King Arthur Flour and Red Star Yeast along with several other donors, this bi-annual event brings hundreds of viewers to enjoy the day. 

This is the consistency of the 'slurry' of cooked liquid
and flour to go into the other ingredients. 

I always enjoy helping a contestant because I learn so much from their techniques. This year I saw the Tangzhong method of mixing dough. This is an Asian yeast bread technique we're hearing more about in American kitchens now. This method brings a new level of softness and tenderness to baked breads. With this technique a small percentage of the flour and liquid (water or milk) is cooked very briefly before combining the resulting thick slurry with the remaining ingredients. This re-gelatinizes the starches in the flour, meaning they can absorb more water. Heating the starch with water also creates structure, so it is able to hold onto that extra liquid throughout the kneading, baking, and cooling processes. This makes the dough less sticky and easier to knead, the bread may rise higher, and it stays soft and fresh longer. See the King Arthur website for more information about this method and some other recipes. 

Another thing I learned was about Specvulaas Spice, a new popular flavor that has Dutch origins. You can make your own (ingredients are listed at the end of this bread recipe) or buy it from King Arthur. 
If you aren't familiar with King Arthur Flour company, check out their website. There is lots of information as well as great recipes there. Their products are also superior quality. 

This entry is ready to go to the judges! 

BLACKBERRY GINGER SPECULAAS DANISH WREATH

Ingredients:

Spiced Dough:

3 ½ - 3 ¾ cups King Arthur unbleached Bread Flour, divided

½ cup water

1  (¼ oz) package Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

½ cup whole milk (115-120 degrees F.)

1 large egg

2 tablespoons cornstarch 

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ teaspoon King Arthur Speculaas Spice

¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

½ teaspoon ground ginger

Blackberry Speculaas Filling:

¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

¼ cup dark brown sugar

1 ½ teaspoons King Arthur Speculaas Spice

2 tablespoons King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

¼ cup blackberry seedless jam or preserves

2 tablespoons finely chopped crystalized ginger

¾ cup halved fresh blackberries

Lemon Glaze: 

1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

1-2 tablespoons whole milk

¼ teaspoon almond extract

Pinch of fine sea salt

Garnish:

Fresh blackberries

Fresh thyme sprigs

Grated zest of ½ lemon

Directions:

1.   In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk 3 tablespoons flour and water until thick. Transfer to bowl of stand mixer. Let cool to 120 degrees F. 

2.   Using paddle attachment, stir in 2 cups flour, yeast, sugar, butter, milk, egg, cornstarch, lemon zest, vanilla, Speculaas, salt and ginger; mix on low speed 2 minutes. Scrape bowl. 

3.   Switch to dough hook; add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead 5-6 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover, let rise until doubled.

4.   Line an extra-large baking sheet with parchment, and place it on top of another extra-large baking sheet, to prevent over-browning of bottom crust. Grease the outside of a 3” oven-safe ramekin and invert into center. 

5.   For filling: in small bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, Speculaas, flour and zest until smooth. 

6.   On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 20” x 12” rectangle. Spread filling over dough, then jam, leaving ½” border. Sprinkle on ginger and halved blackberries. Starting at the 20” side, roll dough into tight log; pinch edges to seal. 

7.   Wrap log, seam-side down, around ramekin. Pinch ends together. Cut 12, 1 ½ “ slices, ¾ of the way to center leaving center circle attached. To form heart-shape rolls, twist first roll to the left, and place spiral facing up. Twist roll on the right of spiral to the right, and place spiral facing up. Repeat until 6 large hearts are formed. Cover; let rise until almost doubled. 

8.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 30 – 35 minutes until golden, rotating pan halfway through baking. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet before sliding to rack. After 15 minutes, remove ramekin and parchment; let cool. 

9.   For lemon glaze: In small bowl, whisk together ingredients and drizzle over wreath. Decorate with blackberries and thyme. Before serving, finely grate lemon over wreath. Store in refrigerator. 

Yield: 1 wreath, 12 servings. 

·     To make your own Speculaas: Whisk together 2 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground white pepper (optional), ¼ teaspoon ground anise, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger and ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom. Store in sealable container. 

Storage Tip:  Wrap individual rolls in parchment paper and place in sealed container; refrigerate up to 7 days. To reheat: Leave individual roll on paper, and heat in microwave, on HIGH, 10 seconds. Serve immediately. 

Rising Tip: Place kneaded dough in lightly oiled 8-cup container and cover. When the dough has risen to the 8-cup mark, it is ready to form! 

Merry rolling the dough with filling.

Shaping the spiral hearts of dough.