531.Baklava Bread Rolls

Baklava Bread Rolls #Bread Bakers

Happy Diwali

  Diwali or Deepawali literally means a row of lights. For Hindus, it is one of the most important festival of the year. It is a time filled with light, love and joy. Rows of diya were lit after Lord Ram returned from his 14 year exile. Diwali has many significant meanings for the Hindus.In the true sense Diwali celebration lasts for 5 days beginning from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj day.  Diwali means triumph over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance.Lighting diyas signifies light, a gift from God. Homes are cleaned, decorated, new clothes are bought, delicious food is prepared all to celebrate Diwali. Dhanteras is the first day of Diwali when when families and friends get together to worship the Goddess of Wealth Laxmi. They not only ask for material but spiritual wealth, love, harmony and humility. Second day is Naraka Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas. It is believed that the demon Narakasura was killed by Lord Krishna on this day. Different communities in India celebrate this day for different reasons. I have grown up celebrating Kali Chaudas as a day to remember departed souls, remembering our forefathers and offering them kheer and puri (a fried bread). The third day is Diwali when we all dress up in our new clothes and visit families and friends, exchanging gifts. The fourth day is New Year for the Gujarati community. On this day we get up really early, dress up and go to the temple and visit families and friends. Its also the day the Goddess of Food Annapurna is worshipped. Its also the day Lord Krishna lifted a mountain on his little finger to protect the villagers from the torrential rain. The fifth day is dedicated to brothers. Sisters invite their brothers for a meal to their homes.
The Bread Bakers theme for November is family feast bread kindly hosted by Pavani of  Cook's Hideout. I immediately knew that my bread should be focused on the festival of Diwali. Diwali for most of us means using nuts, spices and sugar. So I came up with the idea of making baklava bread rolls, befitting the festive celebration. 

stack 3 pieces on top of each other

using the back of a knife, mark the centre and fold. 

used up the trimmed edges

BAKLAVA BREAD ROLLS
Makes 12

Bread dough :
3-3¼ cups plain flour (all purpose flour)
¼ cup sugar
2¼ tsp instant active dry yeast
½ tsp salt
4 tbsp soft butter
1 cup warm milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling :
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp butter
a generous pinch of sea salt
¼ cup pistachios
8-10 walnuts
8-10 almonds

For topping /glaze :
1 tbsp melted butter
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp water
4-6 strands of saffron (¼ tsp powdered)
a few rose petals

extra flour for dusting
extra butter for greasing

Preparation of the bread dough :

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a mixing bowl.
2. Add vanilla extract to the milk and mix well.
3. Rub in 3 tbsp of butter into the flour.
4. Add the milk and form a dough. The dough may be sticky but on kneading it will become smooth.
5. Add remaining butter little by little and knead the dough. 10 -15 minutes if kneading by hand or 5-7 minutes by machine.
6. Grease the bowl lightly with butter. Form the dough into a ball and place it in the bowl.
7. Cover the bowl with a cling film and place it in a warm place for the dough to rise.
8. The dough should be double the size. Mine took 1 hour 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising, prepare the filling and the topping or glaze.

Preparation of the filling :

1. Grind the nuts separately into a coarse powder.
2. Mix the powders.
3. Mix sugar, salt, lemon zest, cinnamon and cardamom powders together.
4. Melt the butter over low heat or in a microwave oven.

Preparation of the glaze :

1. Mix water and honey in a small pan.
2. Put the pan over low heat and let the mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes.
3. The mixture should become slightly thick like a syrup.
4. Add saffron and mix well.

Preparation of the rolls :

1. Grease a muffin tray lightly with some butter.
2. Gently knead the risen dough and cut it into half.
3. Cover one half of the dough with a cling film.
4. Roll out the other half into a 9" X 12" rectangle. Trim the edges.
5. With the longer side facing you, cut the rectangle into 3 equal sizes lengthwise (3" each).
6. Then cut it width wise into 6 equal parts (each 2" ).
7. Brush melted butter over it.
8. Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture over the pieces.
9. Sprinkle half of the nut mixture over the pieces.
10. Pile or stack the three pieces.
11. Using the back of a knife, make a dent in the middle and fold into half.
12. Place the folded roll in the muffin tray.
13. Repeat steps 10 -12 with the remaining rows. You should have 6 rolls ready.
14. Clear the worktop which will have sugar and nut mixture.(save it)
15. Roll out the remaining dough into a rectangle. Repeat steps 4-13.
16. Let the rolls rise for 45 minutes.
17. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 
18. Brush melted butter over the risen rolls gently.
19. Bake the rolls for 15 - 20 minutes, till the rolls are golden brown in colour.
20. Take the rolls out of the oven.

Final step :

1. Brush the rolls while still hot with the honey saffron syrup.
2. Sprinkle rose petals over the rolls.
3. Place the rolls on a wire rack till they cool down completely.
4. Store the rolls in an airtight container. 
5. Serve as a dessert treat with coffee.

Tips :

• Use the trimmed dough and sugar nut mixture to prepare mini rolls.
• Can add rose essence to the sugar mixture if you like.
• Make sure you grind the nuts into a coarse and not a fine powder. You want a bite of nuts when eating the rolls.
• Stack the 3 pieces together properly, one on top of the other.
• Fold it into half carefully.
• Can adjust the type of nuts used according to your taste.

Let's take a look at what my fellow bakers have baked for this month’s Family Feast Breads event:

• Butterflake Rolls from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Cardamom Fig Braid from A Shaggy Dough Story
• Challah Bread from la cocina de Aisha
• Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Buns from Food Lust People Love
• Chicken in a Blanket from Sneha's Recipe
• Classic Dinner Rolls from A Baker's House
• Cloverleaf Rolls from En La Cocina de Caro
• Cranberry & Orange Spice Bread from Baking in Pyjamas
• Eggless Coconut Pineapple Quick Bread from Seduce Your Tastebuds
• Edible Bread Basket from Passion Kneaded
• Mallorcan Ensaimadas from Ruchik Randhap
• Meyer Lemon & Cranberry Einkorn Bread from The Schizo Chef
• Pear Pie Cinnamon Rolls from From Gate to Plate
• Poppy Seed Coiled Challah from Bakingyummies
• Poppyseed Roll from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Povitica from Spiceroots
• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls from Cook's Hideout
• Pumpkin Yeast Bread from Hostess At Heart
• Rose-shaped Buns from Sara's Tasty Buds
• Savory Cheddar Honey Butter Rolls from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Simple High Fibre Baguettes from What Smells So Good?
• Smoked Cheddar Caramelized Onion Dinner Rolls from Noshing With The Nolands
• Sweet Dumpling Squash Drop Biscuits from Magnolia Days
• Thanksgiving Wreath Braided Bread Centerpiece from Pastry Chef Online

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.
We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.
If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.