Cinnamon Sugar Buttons Food

CINNAMON SUGAR MADELEINES

Steps:

• Adjust the racks to the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a madeleine pan.
• Add the flour, baking powder, salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon to a medium bowl, and whisk to combine.
• Add the granulated sugar, vanilla and eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until the eggs are pale, thick and light yellow, about 5 minutes. Pour in the 4 tablespoons melted butter and mix until just combined. Turn off the mixer and stir in the dry ingredients.
• Fill the madeleine pan three-quarters of the way to the top of the molds and bake for 10 to 11 minutes. Cool slightly on a wire rack, 10 minutes, then remove the cookies from the molds.
• Combine the confectioners' sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Place the cinnamon sugar in a fine-mesh sieve and dust the cookies before serving.

CINNAMON-SUGAR STICKS

Steps:

• Beat 1/2 cup softened cream cheese with 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar until smooth. Spread onto strips of refrigerated breadstick dough. Twist and stretch into 12-inch sticks and bake as the dough label directs. Brush with melted butter.

SUPER CHOCOLATEY BUTTONS

Steps:

• Position racks in the lower and upper third of the oven. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. (If you don't have 3 pans, simply cool the pan between batches.)
• Put the butter, unsweetened chocolate and 4 ounces semisweet chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 75 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir and heat again until melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively, put the chocolates and butter in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
• Stir the granulated and light brown sugars and vanilla into the chocolate mixture with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs and buttermilk and beat vigorously until thick and glossy.
• Whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa and the salt in another bowl. Add them to the egg mixture and stir until just mixed. Stir in the remaining chip-size semisweet chocolate. Cover and refrigerate the dough until firm enough to scoop, about 1 hour.
• Roll the dough into scant 1 tablespoon (about 3/4 inch) balls and place 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the remaining 1/2 cup cocoa powder and the confectioners' sugar in two separate bowls for rolling. Roll the dough balls in the confectioners' sugar, then in the cocoa powder and place on the baking sheets. Bake until the cookies set but are soft and fudgy on the inside, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

CINNAMON SUGAR

Steps:

• Stir sugar with cinnamon.
• Place funnel over spice bottle with shaker lid; carefully pour in cinnamon sugar.

CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS

Steps:

• Batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add egg yolks and sugar. Mix on medium speed just to combine, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until mixture is pale and fluffy and ribbons start to form, about 3 minutes. Reduce to medium speed, then slowly stream in the melted butter, followed by the buttermilk; mix until combined, about 5 seconds.
• Turn the mixer off. Add the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and baharat. Mix on low speed just to combine, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and continue mixing until dough is smooth and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, 20 to 30 seconds.
• Tape a 12" x 16" sheet of parchment paper to your work surface to keep it from slipping. Generously dust the parchment with flour. (Keep extra flour nearby to use as needed.) Scrape down the paddle attachment, then turn all the batter out onto the floured surface. The batter will be very sticky and loose. Dust the top of the batter with more flour, all the way to the edges; flour your hands thoroughly. Place a second piece of parchment paper on top of the flour-dusted batter. Roll the batter between the parchment paper into a ½-inch thick rectangle, about 10" x 14". Using only the weight of the rolling pin itself, very gently ease it along the parchment paper-first from top to bottom, then from side to side-to evenly flatten the batter without rolling it too thin. Once you've achieved the right thickness, slide the dough (still sandwiched between parchment) onto an overturned baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes and up to overnight.
• Preheat the frying oil: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 2-3 inches of oil. Clip a deep fry thermometer onto the side of the pot and heat oil to 350 F. After at least 30 minutes, remove dough from freezer. Generously dust your work surface with flour. Peel the top layer of parchment off the dough. (It's ok if some of it sticks-just be gentle and persistent!) Flip the baking sheet with dough onto the floured surface, so the bottom piece of parchment is now on top. Remove this layer of parchment and use a pastry brush to brush excess flour off dough.
• Cut donuts: Use two sizes of ring cutters to quickly cut out the donuts. Flouring the cutters well and often to prevent sticking, stamp out as many 2.75-inch circles as possible; then use the 1-inch cutter for the holes. The dough scraps can be gathered together, re-rolled and cut for more donuts.
• Fry the donuts: Carefully lift the dough rings with a spatula and slide them into the oil, frying about 4 at a time, depending on the size of your pot. After about 1 minute, the edges will begin to brown; flip the donuts and fry for another minute, then flip again and fry until golden brown and delightfully puffy, another 30 seconds. (Total frying time for the donuts will be about 2½ minutes.)Transfer donuts to a rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with remaining donuts and donut holes. (Donut holes take 60 to 90 seconds and tend to flip themselves.)
• In a large bowl, combine sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. One by one, toss the hot donuts in the sugar mixture until well coated. Serve immediately. After the donuts are cool, store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.