Mixer (cooking)

Rolls with Poppy Seed Filling

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

I am making loads and loads of these delicious rolls for this year’s Christmas.

There are many poppy seed addicts in our family and I’ll try my best to satisfy them all.

 

These rolls are amazing and fun to make yeast-based pastries filled with a scrumptious poppy seed filling.

If you are still looking for a nice Holiday recipe then you should definitely give these a try.

They’ll make you happy.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

Here’s what we need to prepare them.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

Let’s start with the dried yeast.

Dried instant yeast is an awesome thing! Your baking will always be a success if using this kind of yeast.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

1. Mix the yeast, warm milk and sugar in a bowl.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

2. Place the flour, salt and butter into a large bowl.

 

3. Pour in the yeast mixture.

 

4. Using your hands or an electric mixer, combine the ingredients and then knead until you form a ball. You should knead until the dough ball is no longer sticky. It should be nicely smooth and elastic.

If you think that your dough is a little too dense to work with, add a little more milk. Start with one tablespoon of milk and if that’s not enough, add some more.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

This is the kind of dough that likes a lot of attention (read: kneading). I love kneading dough – it’s the most wonderful way of relax for me.

 

5. Place the dough into a bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

In the meantime, we can prepare the poppy seed filling.

Of course, you can replace this filling with the canned, store-bought one.

But why would you?

Okay, I may know why… it’s simpler. But still – making your own filling will be a lot more fun!

 

6. So, for the adventurous ones – grind the poppy seeds.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

7. Combine the sugar with hot water. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

8. Then stir in the ground poppy seeds, lemon zest and vanilla extract.

And that’s it – your poppy seed filling is done and ready to be used.

 

9. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

10. Turn the risen dough onto a floured surface.

 

11. Using a sharp knife, divide the dough into four (4) equal parts.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

12. Take one of the four parts…

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

13. And roll it out into a circle.

The circle should be about 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

14. Cut the circle into 8 equal triangles.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

15. Arrange 2 teaspoons of the filling crosswise at the wider end of the triangle.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

16. And roll it up, starting at the wider end.

 

17. Pinch the edges to seal.

 

18. Let the rolls rise for another 10-15 minutes.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

19. Then transfer them onto the lined baking sheet.

Work in batches here.

 

20. Beat the egg lightly. Brush each roll that you’ve transferred onto the sheet with the egg mixture.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

Just like this.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

21. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for 16 minutes.

Then repeat the process with the rest of the rolls.

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

Yum!

 

sweet rolls with poppy seed filling recipe with step by step pictures

Double yum!

 

Enjoy, dear friends.

This is very, very good.

 

(This recipe makes 32 rolls and takes about 2 1/2 hours to prepare.)

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Bowtie Cookies

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

I am sending you warm greetings from my kitchen.

Because I luv ya!

And because the running oven makes it really, really warm in here.

 

The time before Christmas has a sweet and magical impact on me. I find myself in the kitchen even more often than usual.

Which actually means that instead of 14 hours a day I spend 20 hours here now.

Like yesterday, for example, I made 82 cookies and I don’t even know how that happened to me.

Strange.

 

Anyhow, these lovely Bowtie Cookies were one of those I made yesterday.

The dough has cream cheese in it. It remotely resembles puff pastry, but it is less layered and less fatty. And oh so delicious!

The dough is filled with jam. You wouldn’t believe how gorgeous that combination is.

Let me show you how I prepared them…

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, ingredients

Here’s what we need.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and salt on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes.

 

2. Then on low speed, gradually beat in the flour just until mixed. A crumbly mixture will form.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, using your hands, pat the crumbly mixture together to from a dough ball

3. Using your hands, pat the crumbly mixture together to form a dough ball.

Oh, and the face – I had to. Again. It’s addictive. Sorry!

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, preaheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a square or rectangle, cut the dough into even square

4. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

 

5. Now, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a square or rectangle about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick.

 

6. Cut the dough into even 2.5 x 2.5 inch (6 x 6 cm) squares.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, cutting dough with pizza cutter

I’ve found out that my pizza cutter works best when it comes to cutting pastry.

It’s perfectly sharp.

And pink.

I’m in love with it!

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center of each square

7. Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center of each square.

Use a really thick jam. There are even jam brands out there that are meant for baking. Get one of those, preferably.

Also, when I was making the first batch of these cookies I was a little too generous and placed a little more than one teaspoon of the filling in the center. And I also spread it.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

I don’t recommend that.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

Although the cookies looked amazing before baking, if there’s too much jam, it has a tendency to leak while baking.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

In the second batch I was less generous.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, bake

And the cookies leaked less, they almost didn’t leak at all.

7. Back to the instructions… pull 2 opposite corners of the square into the middle, and pinch the edges together to seal.

Pinch the edges well, don’t give them a chance to open back into the square shape while baking.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

8. Place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) apart.

 

9. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for about 12 minutes or until lightly golden.

 

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

10. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

 

11. Dust the tops with sifted confectioner’s sugar while still warm, then let cool completely.

 

Enjoy, dear friends!

 

(This recipe was loosely adapted from Epicurious.com and makes 40 cookies.)

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Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Bars

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

Are you one of those people who, like me, had thought that cheesecake and chocolate are not possible together?

Well, then I have something to tell you.

Something very important.

Something enlightening!

Dear friends, cheesecake and chocolate ARE possible to exist together.

SO possible.

Beyond possible!

Finger-licking possible!

Let me show you…

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

These are our lovely ingredients.
chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

1. First, place the first three ingredients in the bowl of your electric mixer…

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

2. …and beat them at medium-low speed until combined.

Then increase the speed to medium, and beat until well blended and crumbly.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

3. Pat the mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch (33 x 22 cm) pan.

A good trick is to use the bottom part of a measuring cup or a glass to do that.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

4. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and bake for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

This is a lovely, delicious and easy substitute for crushed wafers that are often used in cheesecake recipes.

Cool, huh?

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, cheesecake filling

5. Now, let’s make the cheesecake filling.

Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer and beat at medium speed until creamy.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, add the eggs

6. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.

7. Finally, add the sour cream, vanilla, and one cup of the chocolate chunks.

Beat just until blended.

Of course, you can use chocolate chips instead of the chunks.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked crust

8. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked crust.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, using a spoon or an offset spatula, even out the surface

9. And using a spoon or an offset spatula, even out the surface.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, bake

10. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for about 25 minutes or until set.

 

11. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, melt the rest of your chocolate chunks

12. Then melt the rest of your chocolate chunks.

Microwave oven will work just fine.

(Oh, and use microwave friendly dishes, please. The one in the picture hadn’t gone to the microwave oven. If it had, things would have gotten sparkly… I guess. Don’t ask me how I know. Please.)

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures, stir the melted chocolate until smooth, then drizzle the chocolate over the cheesecake

13. Stir the melted chocolate until smooth. Then drizzle the chocolate over the cheesecake.

 

14. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Then cut into bars.

Also, I’ve found out that it’s fine to reheat the bars in the microwave oven for a little while before serving. That way the chocolate will melt slightly making the whole eating experience even more divine.

chocolate chunk cheesecake bars recipe with step by step pictures

Enjoy, dear friends.

 

(This lovely recipe was adapted from here. The recipe makes about 14 3×1.5-inch (8 x 4 cm) bars. The recipe takes about 1 hour to prepare and about 4 hours to chill. And the whole thing takes about 10 minutes to eat. Funny but true.)

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Soft Garlic Knots

soft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns

I’ve been craving nice homemade rolls for quite some time.

The instant I saw the recipe for these heavenly Soft Garlic Knots over at AnniesEats I knew my fate was sealed.

With the recipe as flawless as this one, everything went perfectly.

Oh, and yes, there’s yeast. Please, don’t let that fact scare you off. The yeast in this recipe is nothing more than one of a few ingredients that creates the dough and that’s it. The magic will happen by itself, dear friends, there are no special tricks of trade involved.

This is a simple recipe which yields amazing results.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, ingredients

In case you really need to have these knots too, of which I am just sure, here are the ingredients.

 

 

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, place the dry ingredients into a bowl and stir them to combine

These knots can be kneaded in an electric mixer or simply just by hand. That really depends on your decision.

1. To start, place the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, yeast and salt) into a bowl and stir them to combine.

2. Then add the wet ingredients (olive oil, milk and water) and stir again just to combine.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, using the dough attachment of your electric mixer, mix the dough for about 8 minutes

3. Now, using the dough attachment of your electric mixer, mix the dough for about 8 minutes.

If you want to do this by hand, the process will last a little longer.

What we are going for here is a smooth and elastic dough.

4. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turn once to coat…

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, cover with plastic wrap

…and cover with a plastic wrap.

5. Allow to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, turn the dough onto a very lightly floured surface and divide the dough

6. Turn the dough onto a very lightly floured surface and divide it into 8 equal pieces.

To do that I used a knife. I first divided the dough into halves. Then I cut each half into halves again so I had 4 pieces. And finally I cut each piece into halves again which resulted in 8 equal pieces.

 

7. Use the palms of your hands to roll each ball into a 10-inch (26 cm) long rope.

If the dough is too sticky then use a little flour to dust it with. The ropes can’t be sticky because you wouldn’t be able to form the knots.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, tie the rope into a knot, let rise

8. Now tie the rope into a knot.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns

9. Take the end lying underneath the knot and bring it over the top, tucking it into the center and take the end lying over the knot and tuck it underneath and into the center.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, transfer the knots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover with a clean kitchen towel

10. Transfer the knots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover with a clean kitchen towel.

 

11. Let the knots rise for another 45 minutes.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, prepare the glaze, melt the butter and press the garlic into it

12. In the meantime you can prepare the glaze.

Melt the butter (microwave is perfectly okay) and press the garlic into it.

Instead of pressing the garlic through the press you can just mince it finely.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, glaze, add dried oregano

13. Add the dried oregano…

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, mix the glaze

14. …and mix it all together.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns

15. When your knots are nice and puffy…

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, brush the glaze onto them

…brush the glaze onto them.

 

 

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns, bake

16. Place the knots into a preheated oven (350 °F – 175 °C) and bake for about 15-18 minutes.

This will smell like heaven, I’m telling you.

It’s amazing!

Your neighbors will come knocking on your door begging for the recipe.

oft garlic knots recipe with step by step pictures, soft buns, homemade buns

These cuties taste best when still a little warm.

They perfectly accompany a delicious soup, or, when I think about it, they perfectly accompany just anything.

Enjoy, dear friends!

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