My sister and I plan to open a bed and breakfast when we’re both widows some day. (Please don’t discuss this idea with my husband. It makes him nervous.) This sweet yeast bread will definitely be on the menu.
Think sophisticated cinnamon roll with melt-in-your mouth tenderness. The twisted configuration ups the fanciness quotient considerably.
Just like 95% of the yeast bread I make, this recipe is mixed, kneaded and proofed in a bread machine but using a big electric mixer or mixing by hand is fine if you’re so inclined. Once the dough rises to double its original size, remove from the pan, shape, allow to rise again and bake.
Don’t be scared off by the shaping instructions. I’ve made many less than perfect twists in the past but they still tasted incredible–as in calling my name from the kitchen the rest of the day. The glaze will cover a multitude of sins. (Totally unrelated, what else covers a multitude of sins? Bonus points if you can name chapter and verse.) I normally use more icing than pictured here but I wanted you to be able to see the twist.
Twisted Cinnamon-Pecan Breakfast Yeast Bread (another bread machine recipe)
Makes 2 8-inch twists
Ingredients:
3/4 cup half and half (warmed for 1 minute in microwave)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3 (1/4)-3 (3/4) cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 package instant or bread machine yeast or (2 1/4 teaspoons)
Filling:
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
Icing:
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 + tablespoons milk or black coffee
Directions:
First: Place all ingredients in order listed into bread machine pan. Set on dough cycle. If you are inexperienced with a bread machine, check out the mini bread machine tutorial on this Monkey Bread post.
Second: When dough has risen to double, remove from bread machine and divide in half. Cover each portion with plastic wrap and let rest 10 minutes.
Third: Roll first half into a 9 x 20-inch rectangle. Spread with half the butter. Sprinkle with half of filling mixture. Starting at long side, roll up jellyroll style. Pinch seam to seal.
Now it gets a little tricky but the twist is what makes this sweet bread special. Proceed with confidence.
Fourth: Slice roll in half lengthwise. Place halves side by side, with cut surfaces facing up. Moisten one end of each portion with wet fingers. Push the ends together to join the two pieces of dough. Twist pieces together; shape into a ring and fit into a greased 8 or 9-inch pan. Moisten ends and press to seal.
Repeat process with other half of dough and filling. Cover and let rise in warm place until almost doubled in size. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Fifth: Bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 3 minutes and transfer to serving platter with spatula.
Adapted from Grant Corner Inn Breakfast and Brunch Cookbook by Louise Stewart
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
That is gorgeous, and I’m sure it’s also delicious!
How about opening the bed and breakfast sooner rather than later, and offering cooking classes there too?
My goodness! This is a stunning pastry, I love the technique!
Drool is dripping on my keyboard. Why do you do this when I am trying hard to lose 5#?
This recipe looks like a keeper! I bet Kent Matthew would like it better than peas!
Oooh, how cool is that!?! I’ve never seen that done, it’s very impressive.
P.S. I just made cinnamon rolls this morning. Wish I’d have seen your post first.
It looks so tasty. I love the detailed instruction.
btw creme fraiche is easy to make. Both of these recipes work equally well and the procedure is the same for both, it just depends on what I have in the fridge as to which I make.
2 cup cream and 2 tbs buttermilk or 1 cup cream and 1 cup sour cream.
Stir together in a glass jar and let sit at room temp for 8-12 hours, until thick. Refrigerate until cold.
Mimi
This looks super yummy! I will come stay in your bed and breakfast!
Is that an Arthur Court platter you put the bread on? I hear that stuff is fantastic!
Christina, yes, Arthur Court. My daughter-in-law likes to collect and give that stuff. I love it.
Mimi, thanks for the creme fraiche directions.
this was a yum, yum, yummy treat on our “Texas Christmas” brunch!
This looks amazing! Love that your recipe makes 2 twists. Bonus pts…Love…I Peter 4:8. Do bonus pts. mean I get to ask 2 questions
What warm place do you put your twists to rise?
How long does it take to double in size before baking?
Jennee, You answered the question. Alright!
I assume you are talking about a warm place for the second rise. Best place for first rise is inside your bread machine.
Here are a few ideas for warm places for second rise:
In oven (set at 100 degrees if your oven will allow) with light on.
Inside microwave in which you have previously boiled water. Close the door.
On top of water heater or dryer if running.
In front of heating vent.
In middle of a hot Texas summer? back porch. Seriously. Covered of course.
How long it takes to double in size is directly related to where you put the bread to rise. I would allow an hour but could be 30 minutes if spot is warm. In winter time in a cold house-could be a little longer.
This looks AMAZING! I realize more and more after reading your blogs how badly I need a bread machine!
If you like homemade bread–you absolutely “knead” one.
Unless you like to do it all by hand. I can’t relate to those people.
Yeah me either
This looks amazing! I think I have to try it.
So that’s how the twist is made. Wonderful! This looks beautiful and the instructions are very good. Thanks.
This looks amazing. I think I may try it for breakfast Saturday morning. Do you have any good recipes for whole wheat bread using the bread machine? Any recipes that I’ve tried are never very good and Allen won’t eat them!
Gina, I’ve missed you. Can’t imagine how busy you must be though.
Don’t really have a good whole wheat recipe. I’m not that fond of it myself so rarely go there. Occasionally, I will add 1/2 – 1 cup whole wheat to my rolls but that’s about it. Let me know if you come up with a good one.
What kind of bread machine do you have?
I have a Toastmaster bread maker that my Grandma gave me. It’s a few years old, but it’s been working great. Sometimes I add King Arthur White Wheat flour, since it’s not as noticable, but it’s just never as good. I’ll have to keep trying!
I made this over the weekend. It was fantastic! Thanks for all the good recipes!
Tried this during some of our cold rainy weather, and it was wonderful. I did a couple of “non-skinny” things, though. I increased the butter I spread on the dough before rolling it, and instead of the milk/sugar glaze, I used a cream cheese frosting glaze. Am I voted off the blog such an indiscretion? :+)
Hello,
I am a newbie to your site – and I *love* it already! Thus far, I have attempted your Monkey Bread recipe & this Twisty Bread. Both were fantastic, and big hits with my family!
The only “hints” I would give someone trying this recipe out for the first time would be to make sure your rectangle is LONG. I thought I had mine long enough, yet when I was finished twisting it, I could hardly wrap it into a circle without it becoming one large mass of messy dough (delicious messy dough!). My second attempt included a longer rectangle of dough, plus – while I was rolling the dough up, jelly-roll style – I was softly pressing the dough roll, making sure it was a nice, tight roll. I didn’t do that with the first roll and ended up with a kinda loose, messy roll.
Yet from now on, now that I know the “tricks” that work for me (everyone is different), I do believe this will become a go-to recipe for company and any time I want a special treat! YUM~
Great tips. I have been making the twisted cinnamon bread for so long, I had forgotten my struggles to form it right in the beginning. Thank-you for commenting about it.
“Romaine”–I must say this recipe looks like a true winner!! Just let me know when that B&B opens–I’ll be there with bells on! Need another partner??
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes you always have. Can’t wait to try the Fish Pizza!
I can’t wait to try this. I just got a brand new in the box Toastmaster Bread Box (bread machine) at a garage sale for $19.50. Two days in a row I made an incredibly good Pizza stromboli by doing the dough in the bread machine.
I’m going to make your recipe Sunday or Monday. Thank you.
that pic before the second rise makes me jealous. you cant even see the ends of the bread where it was joined to form a circle. looks just perfect.