Monday, July 13, 2009

Paper-baked spiced pastries

Paper-baked spiced pastries / Rolinhos de especiarias

There’s something I need to share: I’m not into Twitter. Honestly, I don’t see what the fuss is all about...
I’ve used it a few times, but it just doesn’t appeal to me. But what do I know, anyway? I’m a silly girl who laughs her heart out at velcro jumpsuits. :D

I’ll stick to cooking, baking and blogging. The wonderful smell of these pastries is a great reason to do so. :D

Paper-baked spiced pastries / Rolinhos de especiarias

Paper-baked spiced pastries
adapted from Donna Hay magazine

½ cup + 1 tablespoon (112g) caster sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground cloves
¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 ¾ cups + 1 tablespoon (255g) all-purpose flour, sifted
1¾ teaspoons baking powder
½ cup (55g) dried cranberries*
½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
½ cup (120ml) milk
3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 180ºC/350ºF.

Combine the sugar, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg in a small bowl and set aside. Place the flour, baking powder and cranberries in a large bowl and stir to combine. Make a well in the centre, gradually add the cream and milk, stirring, until a soft dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Roll out to a 30cm x 40cm (12 x 16in) rectangle. Brush with half the melted butter and sprinkle with the sugar mixture, reserving 1 tablespoon. Roll the dough, starting from the longer side, to enclose and slice into 8 pieces. Place the dough into 8 x ½ cup-capacity (125ml) muffin tins lined with non-stick baking paper – I used regular baking paper brushed with melted butter (I melted a little bit more than the recipe calls for to do that).
Brush the tops of the rolls with the remaining butter and sprinkle with the reserved sugar. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked and lightly golden.

* the original recipe calls for dates; I’d decided to use dried apricots instead but could find none in the pantry (I was sure I had some!). Dried cranberries worked really well here

Makes 8

22 comments:

  1. I m not into twitter either :) These pastries look delicious. I would be in heaven if I wake up to one of these :) yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the cranberries more than I would have liked either of the other alternatives. Great recipe! I'll have such fun making this once my diet is over <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't even have a twitter account. (Partly because it is banned from my work). Love these pastries. So yum and moist!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I recently starting tweeting, and I like it more than I thought I would.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't get Twitter at all. I'd rather be baking than hunkered over my computer. These look like a wonderful way to spend your time - baking and then eating!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJuly 13, 2009

    You're killin' me, Patricia. These look wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a twitter account and still don't get it. I don't understand why it's so popular either.

    Anyway, your pastry looks divine!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The pastries look wonderful! Sounds yummy with the cranberries too...

    I keep getting into Twitter, then falling out, then back again...I can never seem to get it to "stick" :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Not visited Twitter yet!

    I'm just about to get my breakfast, and one of these delicious pastries is just what I need :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. These look soooo delicious. This is my kind of dessert. Dates would be divine, but love your choice of cranberries, too. I love fruit in pastry.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'd take these pastries over Twitter any day! I love how the sugar looks on top.

    ReplyDelete
  12. These look absolutely FABULOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  13. These pastries look pretty. I like the flavours and unusual presentation.

    I couldn't understand Twitter either. I still haven't figured it out, but am now finding it's fun.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have to admit, I'm minorly addicted to Twitter. Okay, a LOT addicted. Maybe it's a good thing you're not into it so much. At least it hasn't stopped you from blogging and sharing such wonderful treats with us! :D

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ooh I can almost SMELL those through my computer screen! Yum!

    I'm definitely into Twitter - I like that I can easily communicate with others who have similar interests. It's also a fun sounding board for ideas or a great way to get advice on a recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't care for Twitter at all, myself.

    The pastries, on the other hand, look like 100 percent pure concentrated evil, where by "evil" I mean "good." ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Patricia - beautiful as always! You have the prettiest dishes. Everytime I go shopping and I see some pretty plate or cup, I think of you.

    I just started using Twitter and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I don't think there are enough hours in my day to add another thing!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Natalie, thank you, dear!

    Miss, I looked at them in my pantry and thought they would be the solution to my lack of apricots! :D
    Thank you for stopping by - and I hope your diet is over soon, diets suck!

    Anh, it used to be banned from my work, too. Maybe that is why it took me a while to get started on it.
    Thank you, darling!

    Susan, really? ;)

    Lynn, I agree with you!

    Michelle, hahah, you are sweet, my friend. Thank you!

    Memória, thank you for visiting!

    Joey, and it's DH, which means a great recipe! :D

    Kelly-Jane, these are quick to put together, no yeast involved! :D
    Thank you!

    Julia, I love fruit in pastry and desserts, too. I'm glad you like these, tks!

    Leemei, thank you!

    Ashley, hahah, me too, darling!
    xoxo

    Liska, thank you for visiting!

    Aparna, tks for stopping by! Maybe I'll change my mind in the future... ;)

    Y, you are so sweet, thank you!

    Anna, I should start following you. ;)

    Elizabeth B., thank you for stopping by! I'm glad you like the "evil" rolls! :D

    Pam, you are so kind, my dear! And I always think of you when I grab one of my Donna Hay magazines. ;)
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  19. These pastries remind me of cinnamon rolls ! They look absolutely delicious !

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh, I must try these! I love the spices you used, and cranberry also! Can't wait to make them, taste them!

    ReplyDelete
  21. These photos are lovely, and I'm sure the pastries taste just as wonderful. I actually have some dough rising right now to make cinnamon rolls. Yummy!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comment!