Crispy Cinnamon Twists Food

CINNAMON TWISTS

Steps:

• Heat the milk and butter in a small pan until the butter has melted. Allow to cool slightly - the milk should be warm, not hot. Put the flour in a large mixing bowl with a pinch of salt to one side of the bowl. Add the yeast into the flour on the other side of the bowl, so it's not touching the salt. Pour in the sugar, then mix it all together.
• Gradually pour the warm milk into the dry ingredients, mixing with your hands until you have a relatively sticky dough. You may not need all of the milk. Add in the egg and continue to work until combined.
• Lightly dust a surface with flour and tip out the dough. It will be quite wet - the more you knead it, the easier it will become. Knead for around 10 mins until you have a smooth dough. Put in a lightly floured bowl to prove for 1 hr or until doubled in size.
• To make the filling, mix the melted butter, sugar and cinnamon together until you get a smooth paste. Set aside.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to around a 30 x 40cm rectangle. Spread over the filling using a palette knife until the dough is completely covered.
• Fold in half widthways and cut into 16-18 strips down the shortest side. Twist both ends of each strip in opposite directions until a spiral shape forms. Holding one end in your hand, wrap the rest of the dough around it and over, pressing the ends into the bottom of the bun so it doesn't unravel during cooking.
• Lay on two lined baking trays spaced 5cm apart. Leave to prove for 30-45 mins until risen slightly. Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Brush the tops of the buns with a little egg and bake for 18-20 mins until golden. Don't worry if a little cinnamon butter comes out.
• For the coating, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Whilst still warm, toss the buns in the sugar and eat straight away.

EASY CINNAMON TWISTS

Steps:

• For the dough, beat the butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the sugar, then add the flour and stir until well combined. Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours, until firm.
• To assemble, preheat the oven to 375 ºF (190 ºC) and line 1 to 2 baking trays with parchment paper.
• Stir the sugar, lemon zest and cinnamon together in a small dish.
• Roll out the first disc of dough on a lightly floured work surface to a rectangle about 10-x-15-inches (25-x-36 cm) and ¼-inch (12 mm) thick. Trim the edges and then brush it with the melted butter and sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar. Sprinkle half of the raisins on half of the dough (10-x-7.5 inches/12-x-18 cm) and fold the half without raisins over this to cover and press gently (the dough will not seal). Cut this into 8 strips and give each a few twist before placing onto the baking trays, leaving space between them (don't worry if a few raisins fall out). Repeat this with the second piece of dough.
• Brush the twists with a little egg wash and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar, if any is left. Bake the twists for about 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool the twists on the baking trays.
• The twists will keep up to 3 days in an airtight container.

3-INGREDIENT CINNAMON-SUGAR TWISTS

Steps:

• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 400°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt on a large plate. Fill a small bowl or glass with cold water.
• Roll out pastry between 2 sheets of parchment until short side is 10" long and dough is about 1/8" thick. Freeze dough 5 minutes. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough crosswise into 1" strips. Transfer half of strips to refrigerator. Working one at a time, brush strip lightly with water (or use your fingertips), then immediately transfer to sugar mixture and turn to coat.
• Starting from the middle, use both hands to twist dough to the ends. Transfer to prepared sheet, arranging twists vertically. Repeat with remaining dough. Freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake twists, rotating sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through, until golden brown and beginning to caramelize, 18-20 minutes. Using tongs, immediately lift twists from parchment and let cool with 1 end on rim of baking sheet (work carefully, sugar coating will be very hot).