Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls


These were sooo yummy.  We made some for some neighbors and kept some for ourselves that we didn't glaze. I'll be so glad when our sugar challenge is over.  Even without the glaze these were yum.
from www.thecurvycarrot.com

Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls

Servings: 16 rolls

Ingredients

For the dough

1 cup milk

2/3 cup sugar

1 and 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

4 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting***I made a boo-boo and ran out of white flour in the middle of this.  I substituted half white and half whole wheat flour, and they still turned out just fine!

For the filling

One 10-ounce package frozen raspberries, not thawed***Try substituting different berries or a mixture of them!

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the glaze

3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 and 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions
1. For the dough: In a small saucepan, warm the milk over moderately low heat until it’s 95°.
2. Pour the warm milk into the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the dough hook and stir in the sugar and yeast.
3. Let stand until the yeast is foamy, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the softened butter, eggs, grated lemon zest and sea salt.
5. Add the flour and beat at medium speed until a soft dough forms, about 3 minutes.
6. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the dough is soft and supple, about 10 minutes longer.
7. Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it with your hands 2 or 3 times.
8. Form the dough into a ball and transfer it to a lightly buttered bowl.
9. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 2 hours.
10. Line the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to extend up the short sides. Butter the paper and sides of the pan.
11.Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and, using a rolling pin, roll it into a 10-by-24-inch rectangle.
12. For the filling: In a medium bowl, toss the frozen raspberries with the sugar and cornstarch.
13. Spread the raspberry filling evenly over the dough. Tightly roll up the dough to form a 24-inch-long log.
14. Working quickly, cut the log into quarters. Cut each quarter into 4 slices and arrange them in the baking pan, cut sides up. Cover the rolls and let them rise in a warm place until they are puffy and have filled the baking pan, about 2 hours.*****I let mine rise for the two hours at room temperature, and then I covered them with plastic wrap at that point and popped them into the refrigerator overnight.  I brought them back up to room temperature the next morning as the oven preheated.
15. Preheat the oven to 425°.
16. Bake the rolls for about 25 minutes, until they are golden and the berries are bubbling. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 30 minutes.
17. For the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk the confectioners’ sugar with the butter and heavy cream until the glaze is thick and spreadable.
18. Invert the rolls onto the rack and peel off the parchment paper. Invert the rolls onto a platter. Dollop glaze over each roll and spread with an offset spatula. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pretty Good Rolls


I can make some great whole wheat bread.  It is heavenly.  I cannot however make rolls.  I do not like a heavy roll.  I've never had a whole wheat roll that I thought was even descent. I know- it's a personal preference.  So I am focusing on half and half rolls.  My family really liked these rolls.  They had the yummy nutty flavor of whole wheat without being heavy.  

4 tsp. active dry yeast
1/2 c. warm water
2 c. milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
3 Tbl. of melted butter, slightly cooled
1/2 c. sugar 
4 cups  whole wheat flour  (up to 1 cup more if needed)
3 cups bread flour
2 whole eggs
2 tsp. salt

Dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar; let stand until frothy.  Combine yeast mixture, milk, 1/2 cup sugar and enough flour to make a medium batter (about the consistency of pancake batter).  Beat thoroughly.  Add melted butter, eggs and salt.  Beat well.  Add enough flour to form a soft dough.  You just want it to pull away from the sides and then some.  Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto counter and let dough rest.  Meanwhile, grease a large bowl.  Knead dough until smooth and satiny and put in greased bowl; turn over to grease top.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.  Punch down.  Turn out onto a floured board.  Divide into portions for shaping; let rest 10 minutes.  Shape dough into desired forms.  Place on greased baking sheets.  Let rise until doubled.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Baste immediately with butter.  Yield: 5 to 6 dozen.