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.