Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs

When I was in Portland, I visited the sensational bakery - BakeShop - and had something that nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes.  It was called a Nutella Puff, and it was perfection.  In my fantasy world, I eat one (read: three) for breakfast every morning.  

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

After taking that final, rapturous bite, I knew that through some form of kitchen magic, I would have to recreate what was truly one of the best pastries my lips had ever met. 

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

My fiance claims that he cannot strictly articulate the precise moment when he first realized he loved me, but I firmly believe that it was the first time he tasted one of my cinnamon rolls.

The man loves cinnamon rolls, and I love baking for such a handsome and grateful patron, but the frequency of his requests often exceeds even my enthusiasm.  

That is when I have to change things up a bit, in order to feed my restless creativity and his insatiable sweet tooth. 

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

With those Oregonian Nutella puffs on my mind, and an unrelenting man at my side, our cravings materialized.  

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

Sweet, chewy dough, lightly spiced, generously buttered, studded with nuts, cut and twisted, and filled with a lavish spoonful of that ever-beguiling substance known as Nutella. 

These rolls-turned-chocolate-nests are nestled into a buttered muffin tin and brushed with melted butter. 

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

Then they get a facelift, by way of a warm oven.  This final proofing period will make them extra airy.   

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

After proofing, the puffs bake for a rapid twelve minutes, giving you just enough time to make a piping pot of strong coffee. 

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

After the puffs have baked to golden brown, they are brushed with - you guessed it, another coat of melted butter. 

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

These puffs are not overly sweet.  They are airy and light, soft and buttery - the perfect breakfast.  

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

It's almost as good as being back in Portland again. 

Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs {Pedantic Foodie}

I think everything should have Nutella-filled centers.

Sincerely, 

Pedantic Foodie


Cinnamon Sugar Nutella Puffs

makes 9 puffs / dough recipe adapted slightly from Alton Brown  

for the dough

- 8 ounces warm milk 

- 1/3 cup granulated sugar 

- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon active dry yeast 

- 15 ounces all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)

- 2 egg yolks

- 1 teaspoon kosher salt

- 2 ounces unsalted butter (room temperature)

for the filling

- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (divided use)

- 1/4 cup granulated sugar

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

 - 1/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts (divided use) 

- 9 tablespoons Nutella

- confectioner’s sugar, optional

In the bowl of your stand mixer combine milk, sugar, yeast, egg yolks, flour, and salt.  Use the paddle attachment and combine on low speed for 1 minute.  Allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes. 

Fit your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment and add butter.  Mix on medium speed for 8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side.  

Turn the dough onto a floured surface and form a large, taught ball.  Place in an oiled bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap.  Allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size. 

While the dough is rising, combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Grease a muffin tin with melted butter. 

After the dough has doubled in size, remove from bowl and roll out onto a floured surface into a 15x12 inch rectangle.  Brush with a thin layer of softened butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and 2 tablespoons of chopped hazelnuts.  Pat the spices gently to press them into the dough.  

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.  

Roll the dough towards you, tucking so that the roll is tight.  Cut the roll into 9 equal slices.  Roll each roll into a 6-inch rope and twist.  Pinch the two ends of the twisted rope to form a nest.  Place each nest into a greased muffin cup and place a spoonful of Nutella into the centers.  Sprinkle with the remaining chopped hazelnuts.  Place the muffin tin in the oven and turn off the heat.  Leave the door half-way ajar.  Allow to dough to proof for 40 minutes.

Remove the muffin tin from the warm oven and set the oven to 400 degrees.  

Bake the puffs for 12 minutes, or until deep golden brown.  Allow to cool for 8-10 minutes before dusting with confectioner’s sugar and serving.  Enjoy! 


Nerd Word Wednesday

I promised you some candy talk, so grab your sugar and let’s get started.  

 All candy making begins with a sugar syrup.  Different types of candies are made by changing the concentration of sugar in the syrup.  Different levels of sugar concentration produce different textured candies.  Caramels, marshmallows, brittles and preserves all begin with the same basic ingredients but achieve different characteristics based on how the syrup is cooked.  

Before thermometers were a common kitchen accessory, candy makers had developed a way of gauging the level of a syrup by testing its behavior in cold water.  A small drop of syrup would be added to cold water and depending upon the sugar concentration it would behave in one of six ways.  These stages are known as -

Thread - thin syrup, forming a thread before even dropped in the water

Soft Ball - forming a ball, soft and shapeable when pressed between fingers 

Firm Ball - forms a firm ball

Hard Ball - forming a hard and solid ball

Soft Crack - makes a cracking sound when added to the water and forms brittle threads

Hard Crack - makes a cracking sound when added to the water and forms hard, brittle threads 

Though the cold water test is reliable, some great minds have made things easier for us by calculating the temperatures for each behavior in good old fahrenheit.   (Most candy thermometers have these stages highlighted.)  Remember, boiling points will vary depending on your elevation.

 

Thread:  215-235 degrees 

Soft Ball:  235-240 degrees 

Firm Ball:   245-250 degrees 

Hard Ball:   240-265 degrees 

Soft Crack:  270-290 degrees 

Hard Crack:  300-310 degrees 

 

It’s time to get our candy game on.  

Sincerely, 

  Pedantic Foodie