Classic French Pain Aux Raisin Recipes

RAISIN BRIOCHE PASTRIES (PAINS AUX RAISINS)

Steps:

• Make brioche dough the day before making pastry and chill.
• Just before making pastry cream, soak raisins in boiling-hot water until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain, pressing out excess liquid, and cool to room temperature.
• Make pastry cream:
• Bring milk to a simmer in a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk together yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl and gradually whisk in hot milk. Return mixture to pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until mixture begins to boil. Simmer, stirring, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer to a clean bowl and stir in vanilla and butter. Cover surface with plastic wrap and cool to room temperature.
• Make pastries:
• Roll out brioche dough on a well-floured surface into an 18- by 11-inch rectangle with a short side toward you. Spread pastry cream evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border at top edge. Sprinkle raisins evenly over cream. Roll up dough, starting from bottom, to make a log 11 inches long and about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Moisten top edge with water and press to seal closed.
• Transfer to a cutting board or baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
• Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Cut chilled log into 11 (1-inch-thick) rounds and arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 buttered baking sheets.
• Let pastries rise in a warm place, uncovered, 1 hour. (They will increase slightly in size and feel very tender to the touch.)
• While pastries are rising, preheat oven to 425°F.
• Bake in batches in middle of oven until tops are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer pastries to a rack.
• Simmer preserves and water, stirring, 1 minute. Pour through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids. Brush glaze onto pastries.

PAIN AUX RAISINS

Steps:

• Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Place raisins in a small bowl and add enough hot water to cover. Let plump for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Place dough on a sheet of lightly floured parchment paper. Roll out to a 12-by-12-inch square, about 1/8-inch thick. Using an offset spatula, spread almond cream evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border all the way around. Sprinkle evenly with reserved raisins. Roll tightly into a log.
• Using a floured serrated knife, cut crosswise into 8 to 9 1 1/2-inch-thick slices, and transfer to prepared baking sheets, cut side up, about 3 inches apart.
• In a small bowl, whisk egg together with 1 teaspoon water. Brush tops of rounds with egg mixture. Sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon sugar. Cover well with plastic wrap, making sure plastic does not touch dough. Let stand in a warm place until doubled in size and indentation holds when dough is gently pressed with a finger, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. Uncover and brush again lightly with remaining egg mixture. Transfer to oven and bake until puffed and golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.