Pastry Twists With Spiced Sugar Honey Glaze Recipes

PASTRY TWISTS WITH SPICED SUGAR-HONEY GLAZE

Steps:

• For pastries:
• Whisk flour, salt, and yeast in medium bowl to blend well. Add lard and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Make well in center of mixture and pour wine into well. Stir with fork until shaggy dough forms. Gather dough together and turn out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, adding warm water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry, about 10 minutes.
• Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using fluted pastry wheel, cut dough into 1 1/4-inch-wide by 4-inch-long strips. Gently twist each strip in center, forming bow. Place pastry twists on prepared baking sheet. Reroll dough scraps to 1/8-inch thickness and cut out additional strips. Twist strips and place on prepared baking sheet.
• Pour enough olive oil into large saucepan to reach depth of 1 1/2 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan with bulb submerged in oil; heat oil to 360°F. Working in batches, fry dough twists in oil until golden on all sides, turning occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried pastries to paper towels to drain. Cool completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• For spiced sugar-honey glaze:
• Line another large baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring honey to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Cool until just warm. Whisk powdered sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl to blend.
• Working with 1 fried pastry at a time, dip pastry into warm honey. Lift pastry and shake gently, allowing excess honey to drip back into pan. Roll pastry in powdered sugar mixture to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet. Arrange pastries on platter.
• Ingredient tip:
• For the best results, dip the pastry twists in a mild-flavored honey, such as orange blossom. An assertively flavored honey will overwhelm the pastry and the spiced powdered sugar.
• What to drink:
• Finish the meal with a glass of Moscato, a sweet white wine. Donatella recommends the 2007 Rivera "Piani di Tufara" Moscato di Trani, Dolce (Italy, $15). The wine's spicy raisin notes are complemented by bitter almond flavors and an apricot finish. If that bottle is unavailable, try the 2008 Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato D'Asti (Italy, $16), a sparkling Moscato with stone-fruit flavors.

SPICED HONEY-GLAZED NUTS

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350.
• Spread the nuts on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake just until the nuts are warm to the touch, about 3 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven. Drizzle nuts with honey and corn syrup, and mix well. Continue baking, stirring often with oiled spatula (I used Pam) until the liquid has evaporated into a glaze, about 10-12 minutes.
• Mix the sugar, salt, cumin, chili powder and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Add the nuts and mix well to coat them with the spiced sugar. Transfer to a clean baking sheet to cool, breaking up the nuts that may have stuck together. They will crisp as they cool.
• Store in airtight container at room temp for up to one week.

PASTRY TWISTS WITH SPICED SUGAR-HONEY GLAZE

Steps:

• 1. Whisk flour, salt, and yeast in a med bowl to blend well. Add lard and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Make well in center of mixture and pour wine into well. Stir with fork until shaggy dough forms. Gather dough together and turn out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, adding warm water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry, about 10 min. 2. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out dough on lightly floured work surface to 1/8" thickness. Using fluted pastry wheel, cut dough into 1 ¼" widex4" long strips. Gently twist each strip in center, forming a bow. Place pastry twists on prepared baking sheet. Reroll dough scraps to 1/8" thickness, and repeat. 3. Pour enough olive oil into large saucepan to reach depth of 1 ½". Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan with bulb in oil; heat to 360. Working in batches, fry dough twists in oil until golden on all sides, turning occasionally, 2-3 min. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried pastries to paper towels to drain.

ITALIAN PASTRY TWISTS

Steps:

• Sift flour into large mixing bowl.
• Add egg, salt, sugar, vanilla and melted butter.
• Mix with your hands until the mixture starts to come together.
• When the dough becomes stiff, add enough sherry to make it soft and pliable.
• Knead until smooth.
• Warp in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
• Roll out pastry thin on lightly floured surface.
• Cut into 40 strips 7 by ½ inches.
• Tie each loosely into a knot.
• Heat oil in pan to 375 degrees.
• Deep fry the knots in batches for 2-3 minutes, until puffed up and golden.
• Drain knots on paper towels.
• Dust generously with powdered sugar.
• Serve hot or cold.