Braided Cinnamon Chocolate Loaf Food

BRAIDED CINNAMON ROLL KNOTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, yeast and 1 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
• Combine the milk and 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and let cool until the milk mixture is about 120 degrees F. Beat in the eggs.
• Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix on medium speed until all the flour is incorporated, about 3 minutes. Increase the speed to high and mix until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes. Grease a medium bowl with butter and add the ball of dough, flipping to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, whisk the brown sugar, cinnamon and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the remaining 6 tablespoons butter until well combined and spreadable; set aside.
• Generously flour a work surface and roll the dough out into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle with one of the shorter ends closest to you. Spread the brown sugar mixture evenly over the dough all the way to the edges. Fold the edge closest to you up and over a third of the way, then fold the top edge down to cover it like a letter. Pinch the edges closed to seal in the filling. Flip it over the dough so the seam is on the bottom and roll again into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into twelve 1-inch-wide strips. Working one at a time and starting 1/2 inch in from one end, cut each strip of dough lengthwise into 3 smaller strips so they remained attached at the top. Braid the three strips together, lightly pinch the ends and gently roll the braid into a spiral. Tuck the rolled dough into a nonstick muffin tin with the uncut end at the bottom of the cup and the braided side up. Repeat with the remaining dough. Cover the tin with plastic wrap and put in a warm place until puffy, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the cinnamon rolls, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
• Whisk the confectioners' sugar, cream and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth and spread on the rolls while they are still warm.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON-SWIRL BREAD

Steps:

• Dough: Whisk together 1/3 cup bread flour, 1/3 cup milk, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until thickened slightly but still pourable (it should have the consistency of loose pudding), 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; let cool until warm to the touch but no longer hot, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 3 cups flour, granulated sugar, salt, and yeast. Make a well in center of mixture. Add cooked milk-flour mixture, remaining 1/3 cup milk, melted butter, and whole egg to well; stir until a dough forms.
• Transfer to a lightly floured work surface and knead until dough is smooth and elastic and springs back when lightly pressed, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl brushed with butter, turning dough to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in volume, 45 minutes to 1 hour; or refrigerate up to 1 day and return to room temperature before rolling out.
• Filling: Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter. Stir together butter, brown sugar, cocoa, and cinnamon until smooth.
• Punch down dough. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Spread brown-sugar mixture evenly over top of dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border at edges. Sprinkle evenly with chocolate. Starting at one short end, roll up dough into a tight log, pinching ends and seam to seal after rolling. Starting 1 inch from one end of log, cut through dough vertically all the way through opposite end (dough should only be attached at one end).
• Twist the two sections of dough outward 5 times, then braid together, starting at attached end, pinching ends together to seal. Compress braid slightly with your hands to approximately 9 inches; transfer to prepared pan. Cover and let rise until doubled in volume (dough should rise about 1 inch above rim of pan), about 45 minutes. Whisk egg white with 1 teaspoon water; brush over top of dough.
• Bake until bread is puffed and brown on top (if browning too quickly, tent with foil), 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. Carefully remove bread from pan and let cool completely on rack, about 2 hours. Slice and serve.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together into a bowl. Whisk buttermilk, water, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl.
• Combine butter and sugar in a third, large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until egg is completely incorporated. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk mixture, beating batter briefly after each addition until just blended. Divide batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely.