Maple Twists

Looking for a special holiday pastry.  You won't regret trying this recipe! They are similar to cinnamon rolls with a little different shaping technique.

I've tried this technique with other cinnamon roll recipes and it works great. If you already have a favorite sweet bread recipe, use these directions for the twists. Just make sure to roll the dough out very thin. If the dough is too thick, it is hard to get the center baked completely.

This recipe makes one pan, or 16 twists. While you have your ingredients out, make a double recipe to have some to share.

Maple Twists
slightly adapted from Mennonite Girls Can Cook cookbook

3/4 cup warm milk
1/4 cup soft butter
3 cups flour
2 T honey (or sugar)
1/2 tsp salt
1 T yeast
1 egg
1 tsp maple extract (optional)

Filling: brown sugar, chopped nuts (optional), cinnamon, and soft butter

Glaze:
1 cup confectionery sugar
2 T melted butter
1-2 T milk
1/2 tsp maple extract

Mix milk, butter, 2 cups flour, honey, yeast, salt, egg, and extract. Stir in remaining flour with kneading hook or by hand until soft dough. Knead for five minutes. Place in greased bowl and allow to rise until double (about 1 hour).

Grease a 12- inch pizza pan. Divide dough into three balls. Roll one ball into a circle to fit the pizza pan. Spread dough with soft butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Add chopped nuts if desired. Repeat layers for remaining balls of dough.



Cut out center of dough with a biscuit cutter or glass. With sharp scissors or pizza cutter, cut 16 wedges from the outside to the center. Twist each wedge several times and press down to hold in place. Allow to rise until double (about 45 minutes).

Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Mix glaze and drizzle over twists while warm. Serve.