Keowee Key Chelsea Recipes

COTTAGE COUNTRY STICKY CHELSEA BUNS LOAF

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups of the all purpose flour, the white sugar, salt and quick-rise yeast in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the kneading hook. In a small saucepan or in the microwave, heat the water, milk and 2 Tbsp. butter until just warm to the touch (about 105F). Stir the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, then add egg and mix in until well combined, scraping down the bowl as needed to combine the flour. Start adding more flour, in small increments, mixing in well before adding more. Continue adding flour until you have a moist dough that wraps around the hook and cleans the bowl of the mixer. Remove dough to a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Form into a ball, cover with a clean tea towel and let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling by stirring together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the 6 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into cubes. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, rub or cut the butter into the brown sugar until you have an even, crumbly mixture. Place 1/3 cup of brown sugar mixture into the bottom of a greased 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan. Add 2 Tbsp. water and stir together to make a sauce (may be a bit lumpy, but not to worry. The lumps are butter and that will melt). Place the halved cherries and pecans (good side down) on top of the sauce.
• Once dough has rested, roll into a 9 x 14-inch rectangle. Spread the remaining brown sugar/cinnamon mixture evenly over the dough, then sprinkle raisins on top, if using. Starting from the long side, roll up jelly roll style, trying not to pull or stretch the dough too much as you roll (aim for a gentle push. This prevents the dough spirals from exploding upwards when they cook). Pinch the seam together and place on a cutting board, seam side down. Cut into 8 even slices (*I like to cut 1/2-inch off each end and then measure the remaining, divide by 8 and then pre-mark the dough lightly with the edge of the knife. You could wing it, but that never works out well for me well when I do that.). The slices will probably be 1 1/2-inches wide-ish. Place the slices cut side up in the pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 40 minutes, or until doubled.
• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Once the rolls have doubled, place loaf pan on top of a baking sheet (to catch any bubble-overs) and bake for about 35 minutes. Check at the 30 minute mark and cover loosely with foil the top is at risk of getting too brown. Remove from oven. Allow to rest in the pan for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, then invert onto a cooling rack with a piece of parchment paper on top, to catch the syrup. To avoid a gummy dough, allow to cool almost completely before pulling off that first piece (I know it's hard to resist, but remember you can always warm it back up a bit with a few seconds in the microwave later).

CHELSEA BUNS

Steps:

• Start by making the dough. Mix together the flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, beaten egg and melted butter. Mix well, first with a wooden spoon then with your hands until you get a soft dough. If it feels dry add a bit of warm water, but if it feels too sticky and wet add a spoonful of flour.
• Dust your work surface with flour and tip the mixture onto it and start kneading. Keep kneading the dough until it feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and sit it in a clean bowl, lightly greased with melted butter or oil. Cover with cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hr or until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and grease a deep 21 x 21cm square tin. Dust the work top with a little more flour then start to knead the risen dough on the prepared surface just to knock the air out. Shape into a 20 x 30cm rectangle. To fill the buns gently spread the softened butter over the dough and then scatter the currants and chopped sultanas over the top. Mix the mixed spice and caster sugar together in bowl then sprinkle that over the dough in an even layer.
• Roll the dough up in a tight spiral from the longest edge like a Swiss roll then slice into 9 equal sized swirled buns. Arrange them in the tin, cut side up then cover with a clean, damp tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for around 30 mins or until doubled.
• Bake the buns for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and cook for a further 10 mins. For the glaze, stir the caster sugar together with 1 tbsp water until the sugar has dissolved then brush it all over the buns as soon as they are cooked. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before serving. Can be eaten hot or cold.