Sunday, December 20, 2009

Cinnamon-Nut Pull-Apart, a Moore Family Holiday Treat




This has been the Moore family traditional breakfast bread for Christmas and Easter. I love that I can assemble it the day before I need it and then bake it just before breakfast. The original recipe called for 1 cup of raisons but the raisin hater in my family made me leave them out.




Pull-Apart Coffee Cake
1 tblsp (1 package) active dry yeast (9 grams)
1/4 cup warm (110 degree) water (59 ml)
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) salt
1/4 cup sugar (50 grams)
1/4 cup salad oil (59 ml)
3/4 cup warm (110º) milk (177.5 ml)
1 large egg
about 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (406 grams)
1/2 cup (1/4 lb) melted butter (113.5 grams)
Cinnamon-nut sugar (recipe follows)

Sprinkle yeast over warm water and let stand to soften, about 5 mins. Stir in salt, sugar, oil, milk, and egg until blended. Stir in 3 1/4 cups of flour until smooth. Knead about 10 minutes, with a mixer or by hand, until smooth and elastic, adding flour as required to keep from sticking.
Divide dough into 3 equal portions, then cut each portion into 16 equal pieces. Shape into balls, roll in butter, then in cinnamon-nut sugar. Stagger balls, barely touching, in layers in greased 9- to 10-inch ring mold (angel food or bundt cake pan). Sprinkle with remaining nut sugar and drizzle with remaining butter.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until puffy, about 45 mins. or chill 16 to 18 hours. Bake at 350 degrees until well browned, 30 to 35 mins.
Let cool in pan on a rack for at least 20 mins. or up to 3 hours. Run a knife between cake and pan side
and then turn out onto plate.
Cinnamon-nut Sugar
Stir together 3/4 cup sugar (150 grams), 1 teaspoon (2.6 grams) ground cinnamon, and 1/2 cup (55 grams) finely chopped walnuts or pecans.
If baking in a rectangular pan, cover when browned and cook an additional 10 minutes. The middle pieces with not be full cooked otherwise.

2 comments:

Chris M. said...

Mom,

I'm fine with raison, and believe it dictates leaving out raisins.

Chris M. said...

Also, doubling the amount of nut sugar doesn't hurt! Gives you much more sweet to contrast with the bacon and eggs.