Sweet Almond Twists Recipes

ALMOND TWISTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Sprinkle work surface lightly with superfine sugar.
• Unfold pastry and roll out to 12" square.
• Break apart almond paste into little pieces and scatter evenly over half of the dough.
• Fold dough in half over almond paste. Roll out to 10 x 12".
• Add more sugar to work surface as needed to keep dough from sticking.
• Fold dough in half again and roll out again to 10" x 12".
• Cut in half to make 2 rectangles each 5" x 12".
• Using a pizza wheel, cut each rectangle into 12 strips, each 1" x 5".
• Twist each strip into a loose corkscrew and put on ungreased cookie sheets 1" apart.
• Bake 15 - 18 minutes, until puffed and golden.
• Remove to wire rack to cool.
• In two small microwaveable bowls, separately melt the chocolates.
• Drizzle both chocolates over the cooled twists.

ALMOND TWISTS

Steps:

• Prepare the egg wash: Combine the yolks, whole egg, and milk in a small mixing bowl and whip with a hand whisk until well combined. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Flour the dough and table as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the table or the rolling pin. Place the dough on your work surface with a long side facing you. Use a pastry brush to coat the surface of the rectangle with some egg wash. Liberally sprinkle the ground almonds over the rectangle, followed by the salt and pepper. Use a sharp paring knife to cut the rectangle into ten 1-inch wide strips. Next, cut each of these strips into three 4-inch-long pieces. Flip each strip so that the almonds are on the bottom. Twist each strip by rolling each end in opposite directions. Always remember to twist so that the topping faces out --that way you can see how they are flavored. Place the strips on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet and bake until well risen and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving. These puff pastry items are best eaten the day they are made.

CHERRY AND WHITE CHOCOLATE ALMOND TWIST

Steps:

• Drain 1/2 cup cherries thoroughly; reserve 2 to 4 teaspoons cherry juice for Glaze.
• Measure carefully, placing 1/2 cup cherries and remaining bread dough ingredients in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Select Dough/Manual cycle. Do not use delay cycles.
• Remove dough from pan, using lightly floured hands. Cover and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface. In small bowl, mix baking chips, almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Grease large cookie sheet with shortening. On floured surface, roll dough into 15x10-inch rectangle. Spread 2 tablespoons butter over dough. Sprinkle with almond mixture and 1/4 cup cherries; press into dough. Beginning at 15-inch side, roll up dough; press to seal seam. Place, seam side down, on cookie sheet.
• Cut roll lengthwise in half. Place halves, filling sides up and side by side, on cookie sheet; twist together gently and loosely. Pinch ends to seal. Cover and let rise in warm place about 45 minutes or until double.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool 20 minutes. In small bowl, stir powdered sugar and enough cherry juice for drizzling consistency. Drizzle over coffee cake.

CINNAMON CRESCENT TWISTS

Steps:

• Separate crescent roll dough into four rectangles; press seams to seal. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter and cinnamon; spread over two rectangles. Top with remaining two rectangles. Starting from a long side, cut each rectangle into eight strips. Twist each strip several times; seal ends together., Place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove to wire racks. Combine glaze ingredients; brush over warm twists.

ALMOND TWISTS

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large mixing bowl; let stand 5 minutes
• 2. Add 3 cups flour, sugar, salt, orange rind, butter, and eggs; beat at low speed of an electric mixer until blended. Beat 4 minutes at medium speed. Add 1 1/2 cups flour; beat at low speed until blended.
• 3. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85degrees) free from drafts, 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled in bulk. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• 4. Combine almond paste, butter, brown sugar, and chopped almonds; stir until blended. Set aside.
• 5. Punch dough down, divide dough in half, refrigerate the other portion. Roll dough to a 16 in x 10 inch rectangle. Spread the dough with half of the almond mixture. Fold the dough lengthwise into thirds.,forming a long rectangle. Cut rectangle into sixteen 1 inch strips. Twist each strip and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• 6. Cover and let rise in a warm place 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire racks and let cool Combine powdered sugar and milk, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over warm rolls.

HONEY ALMOND TWIST

Steps:

• 1. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast; blend well. In small saucepan heat water, milk and margarine until very warm (120 to 130 DF) Add warm liquid and egg to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, stir 3 cups of flour til dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl. On floured surface, knead in 1 to 2 cups flour until dough is smooth and elastic with blisters under the surface, about 10 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl; cover loosely with plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80-85 F) until light and doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• 2. Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. Allow dough to rest on counter, covered with inverted bowl, for 15 minutes. In small bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Divide dough into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough to 25x6 inch rectangle. Spread each with 1 tablespoon margarine. Sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture. Starting with longer side, roll up tightly; pinch edges to seal. Twist each roll stretching slightly. Form into pretzel shape; tuck ends under to seal. Place on prepared cookie sheets. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled in size; about 45 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. In small saucepan, combine glaze ingredients. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Slowly spoon hot glaze over warm breads, completely covering tops and sides. 3 coffe cakes; 16 servings each.