Sweet Knots Recipes

KNOTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together eggs, sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla using an electric mixer on medium speed. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, Gradually stir into the mixture by hand using a large spoon. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead to make a soft elastic dough, about 5 minutes. Cover the dough and let rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. Break off small pieces of dough and roll into small ropes about 4 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Twist the ropes into loose knots or braids. place them 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. When cool, frost with a simple confectioners' glaze.

SWEET POTATO CRANBERRY KNOTS

Steps:

• Mix 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, salt, cinnamon and yeast in large bowl. Add 1/4 cup butter and the water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Add sweet potatoes. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in cranberries and enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead about 5 minutes or until smooth and springy. Place dough in large bowl greased with shortening, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover and let rise in warm place 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes or until double. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)
• Heat oven to 375°. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 8-inch rope; tie into knot. Place on cookie sheet.
• Brush knots with melted butter. Cover and let rise in warm place about 40 minutes or until double. Bake 14 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

CAPPUCCINO KNOTS

Steps:

• Make the knots: Put the melted butter in a bowl. Whisk the granulated sugar and espresso powder in another bowl.
• Butter a 12-cup muffin pan. Divide the dough into 12 pieces; roll each piece into an 8-to-9-inch rope. Dip 1 piece of dough in the butter, letting the excess drip off, then roll in the espresso sugar. Tie the dough into a knot. Place in a muffin cup with one end of the knot facing up. Repeat with the remaining dough. Let rise, uncovered, in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the knots until puffed and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pan.
• Meanwhile, make the glazes: Whisk 1 cup confectioners' sugar and the espresso powder in a medium bowl; add 1/4 cup heavy cream and whisk until smooth, adding more cream if necessary. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar with the remaining 2 tablespoons cream until smooth. Transfer the white glaze to a resealable plastic bag.
• Remove the knots from the pan and dip the tops in the espresso glaze; let set 5 minutes. Snip a small corner of the bag with the white glaze and pipe over the knots.
• Warm 1/2 cup water and the milk in a saucepan over low heat until a thermometer registers 100 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the yeast on top, then sprinkle with a pinch of the sugar; set aside, undisturbed, until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture until combined. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, the remaining sugar, the salt and nutmeg. Make a well in the center, then add the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Brush a large bowl with butter. Add the dough, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it directly on the surface of the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

GOLDEN KNOTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 2 tablespoons sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the butter and remaining 1 cup sugar; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the milk mixture, eggs, salt and 3 cups of flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down dough and divide into thirds; divide each portion in a 14 inch roll; divide each roll into 14 pieces. Roll the pieces into 9 inch ropes and tie into knots. Place the rolls 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven) for 15 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.

SOFT PRETZEL KNOTS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the yeast and warm water. Allow to rest until bubbles begin to form. Add the flour, sugar, and salt. Beat with the hook attachment on low until soft dough begins to form. Turn up the speed to medium and knead the dough for five minutes. Cover the bowl and place in a warm area to rise for one hour. When the dough has doubled in size, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Turn the dough out on a floured surface and form into a long log shape. Cut even strips from the dough. Cut each strip in half and roll out into a thin strip. Twist the strip into a knot and set aside. When all the knots are formed, bring the four cups of water to a boil. Add the baking soda and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Dip each pretzel knot into the baking soda water, then transfer it to a paper towel lined plate. Move all the dipped pretzels to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread melted butter over each knot. Top all the pretzels with coarse salt. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the pretzels are golden brown.

GARLIC KNOTS

Steps:

• Activate the yeast: In a bowl whisk the yeast, sugar and warm water together. Stir and let it sit for 10 minutes until the yeast foams up.
• Make the dough: In the bowl of your mixer, mix the flour and salt together. To it, add egg, butter and yeast mixture. Mix using paddle attachment until it's all well incorporated. The dough will be a bit soft.
• Rise: Place the dough into a well oiled bowl, cover up with plastic wrap and let sit until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut & Roll: Punch down dough to let out some of the air and knead it a couple times. Roll it out a bit so that it's about 1/2-inch in thickness, then cut the dough into 15 long pieces, as seen in the pictures. Roll each piece into long ropes about 8 inches long and tie each rope into a knot. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Finish & Bake: Mix the butter ingredients together and brush generously over the knots. Let the knots rest for another 10 minutes then bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until golden.
• Serve: If there's any garlic basil butter left, brush again on knots before serving.