It’s January. As I write this we are only 9 days into the month and I have already completed this month’s baking challenge for Fresh From The Oven.
I’m a good girl I am.
I was nervous about starting this challenge it as it look quite complicated but as Eddie Izzard once said you should go towards things that scare you…unless the things that scare you are big pointy spears at the bottom of a cliff. So here I am: contented and full of chocolate buns with my task ‘in the bag’.
I don’t intend to write the whole recipe in this post as it is quite long and involved, but it is from Richard Bertinet’s fantastic book: Dough. Chele from Chocolate Teapot set the challenge. The general gist is that you make a sort of chocolatey bread swiss roll, filled with chocolate crème pâtissière and chocolate chips. You then slice it up and bake the glazed swirls. I managed to get 15 out of the mix, not 24 as it should have been, so they are quite hefty.
A year or two ago a recipe like this would have floored me, but having gradually increased my kitchen confidence it was okay, once I got my baking mojo together. Next time I plan to make them less chocolatey and more swirly. Until then I have a batch of unproved swirls in the freezer ready for a Weekend treat some other time. I am setting next month’s challenge so it will be a nice easy month for me.
I have realised that I turn to baking when there are other things I ought to be doing, which is why although Friday should be ‘tidy and clean the house for the Weekend’ it ends up as ‘tables groaning with baked goods day’. I may try to set up some sort of trade-off with someone who hates to cook. If they clean my bathroom, I will make them bread. Makes sense to me!
Happy baking everyone.
Update 26th January 2010
It seems like an age since I wrote this and I still haven’t posted it yet. Just a quick note to say that I baked some of those frozen choccy swirls at the Weekend. I took them out of the freezer on Saturday and put them in the fridge, then I left them out on the counter at night then egg washed them and baked them for breakfast. They didn’t rise quite as well as the first batch but they were still really good. If you would like the full recipe Jules has posted it on her Butcher, Baker Blog.
Pascale
January 28, 2010
Those buns look so yummy. I think I will try the recipe this weekend! Thanks Claire.
thingswemake
January 28, 2010
Thanks Pascale – I think I would try Chele’s version of using Nutella to fill them next time, much quicker!
Janice
January 28, 2010
Oh yes, Eddie was so right and I’m so glad you listened to him. Me? I ran screaming in the opposite direction now I wish I hadn’t lol!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
January 28, 2010
These look wonderful, I like how you’ve photographed them with the white jug and the background looks like very Farrow & Ball coloured paint! Very stylish!
Chele
January 30, 2010
Thanks for taking part – I was a bit worried I had scared everyone off!! Your buns look great, I’m going to make another batch next weekend and freeze some as you have. Can’t wait to see your challenge ;0)
aforkfulofspaghetti
January 30, 2010
“chocolatey bread swiss roll, filled with chocolate crème pâtissière and chocolate chips” – OH. MY. GOD. Please tell me next time you make these – I’ll be at yours by the time they come out of the oven 😉
James
February 3, 2010
Ha – was just thinking of making something like this for Nutella Day on Friday, and here it is. Looks way too good.
Jules
February 3, 2010
I enjoyed making these especially with creme patissiere. I could have quite happily eaten just a bowl of that.