Description
This Orange Cardamom Breakfast Bread Twist is a delightful, fragrant pastry that combines the citrusy brightness of orange with the warm spice of cardamom. The buttery dough is rolled with a brown sugar and cardamom filling, twisted into a beautiful shape, baked until golden, and finished with a zesty orange glaze. Perfect for a special breakfast or brunch treat, this bread is both visually stunning and irresistibly tasty.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- ¾ cup milk, warmed to about 110°F (about 40 seconds in the microwave)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (if using table salt, add ½ teaspoon)
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226 g / 2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold
Filling
- 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- ½ cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinch kosher salt
Glaze
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice (or juice from one orange)
Instructions
- Bloom the Yeast: Add ¾ cup warmed milk to a measuring cup and heat in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Stir in the active dry yeast and allow it to bloom for about 5 minutes until bubbly and fragrant.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the blooming yeast and milk mixture with the egg, granulated sugar, and salt. Set aside to prepare the dough.
- Prepare Dough Ingredients: Using a grater, grate the cold butter onto a plate or cutting board. Add the grated butter and flour to the bowl with the wet ingredients.
- Mix Dough: Using your hands, gently combine all ingredients until just incorporated. You can knead the dough by hand or transfer to a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and knead until a smooth ball forms.
- First Rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel and set aside in a warm spot for 1 hour to allow the dough to rise and double in size.
- Roll Out Dough: Once risen, place the dough on a lightly floured countertop. Roll it out with a rolling pin to approximately ½ inch thickness, forming a rough rectangle.
- Spread Butter: Evenly spread the 4 tablespoons of room temperature butter over the dough, reaching all the edges.
- Make Filling: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, orange zest, cardamom, and a pinch of kosher salt.
- Sprinkle Filling: Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the buttered dough.
- Roll Dough Log: Starting with the longer side, tightly roll the dough into a log, pinching the seam to seal. Turn the log seam side down.
- Cut and Twist: Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled log in half lengthwise, stopping about 1 inch from the end to keep it connected. Starting near the uncut top, gently lift one half and cross it over the other, twisting the dough 2-3 more times for a beautiful layered twist.
- Form Circle: Holding one end, twist the dough around itself to create a circular shape, keeping the cut, exposed layers facing upwards.
- Second Rise: Place the dough ring in a buttered 8- or 9-inch skillet. Cover and let it rise again for 1 hour until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the cover and bake the bread twist uncovered for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
- Continue Baking: Cover the skillet loosely with foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes to ensure it is baked through but stays moist.
- Cool: Remove from oven and allow the bread to cool slightly while preparing the glaze.
- Prepare Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and orange juice until smooth and runny.
- Glaze Bread: After the bread has cooled for about 10 minutes, pour the orange glaze evenly over the bread twist, letting it soak into every nook and cranny.
- Serve: Serve the bread warm or at room temperature for a perfect breakfast or brunch treat.
Notes
- If you prefer a stronger orange flavor, add an extra teaspoon of orange zest to the filling or glaze.
- Make sure the milk is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
- You can prepare this dough the night before by refrigerating it after the first rise; just take it out an hour before rolling.
- Use fresh grated cardamom for the most aromatic flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: orange cardamom bread, breakfast bread, sweet bread twist, cardamom pastry, orange zest bread, breakfast twist recipe
