nutty biscuit spirals

Somewhere between a pastry and a biscuit, this has been a long time favorite.  i threw together a quick batch (20 minutes including baking time) to bring w/ me to my hair appointment this morning as a fun treat to share with friends.  note: best when fresh. 

pastry:

2 cup whole wheat pastry flour (and more for rolling)

2 Tablespoons raw cane sugar (ok to do less)

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, frozen

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

topping: 

2 Tablespoons melted butter

1/3 cup walnuts, minced (almonds, pecans, brazil nuts all work great!)

2 Tablespoons Rapadura (or brown) sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

In a bowl combine flour, sugar and baking powder.  remove butter from freezer and shred into bowl with a cheese grater and mix until it just comes together.  measure out 1/2 cup milk and beat the egg into the milk before pouring into the flour/butter mixture.  w/ a fork, stir until the dough forms.  add a bit more flour if necessary, to keep from sticking.  knead 4-5 times.

Flour a large surface.  with your hands, shape the dough into a fat log, 6-8 inches long.  roll out into a rectangle (approximately 18 x 12” and a bit shy of 1/2” thick) on the floured surface, adding little bits of flour as necessary to keep the dough from sticking to your rolling pin (wine bottles work great too). 

Pour/brush melted butter over the top of your dough rectangle.  mix the minced walnuts w/ the sugar (sometimes i do this first and set aside so they have time to mingle) and spread evenly over the buttered surface.  fold the dough in half long-ways so you have a narrower rectangle (18 x 6”).  gently roll the top to press the middle together. 

For spirals:  cut the entire rectangle into 1” strips (you’ll end up w/ 18, 1” x 6” strips).  one at a time grab each end, gently twist once, hands going in opposite directions and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet an inch or so apart. 

for squares:  cut into strips as above except 2” wide.  cut each strip into three’s and place on a parchment lined baking sheet half to one inch apart.

Bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until puffed and golden.  the spirals will be delicate until cooled, the squares not so much.  enjoy w/ boiled eggs and coffee, or tea and cream, or whatever seems fancy and fun.