Nutella Brioche Flower is a spectacular bread both for its appearance and its taste. It's not at all difficult to make...
Ingredients
For the dough
500 g (16 oz) bread flour or all-purpose flour
190 ml (6 fl oz) lukewarm milk
3 tbsp sugar
60 g (2 oz) melted butter
2 eggs
Grated zest of a lemon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried yeast
And also...
Nutella or similar hazelnut chocolate paste
1 tbsp milk + 1 tbsp water for a glaze
Icing (confectioner's) sugar
Instructions
Mix the yeast and the sugar with the milk. Leave for 10 minutes for the yeast to activate.
Break the eggs into a bowl and beat lightly.
Mix the flour, salt and lemon zest in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the butter, eggs and yeast/milk. Mix to a soft dough.
Knead the dough for 10 minutes then form into a ball and place in a lightly-greased bowl. Cover and leave in a warm place until the dough has about doubled in size.
Meanwhile, cut out a circle of baking or greaseproof paper about 30 cm (12") in diameter. Place the paper on a baking sheet.
Once risen, turn the dough out onto a surface, knock it back knead for 3-4 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 pieces and form each piece into a ball.
Roll a ball of dough out into a circle measuring about 25 cm (10") in diameter. The dough should be about 3-4 mm (1/8") thick.
Place the dough onto the baking paper and spread on a layer of Nutella, leaving a small gap at the edge. Don't make the layer too thick but be sure to evenly cover the dough.
Roll out a second ball of dough, place it on the first layer and spread with Nutella. Repeat with the third and fourth balls of dough but do NOT spread Nutella on the final layer.
Cut the brioche into 16 segments but leave a small (3 cm/1½") area in the centre of the dough uncut.
Take a pair of adjacent segments. Lift and twist them away from each other through 180°. Lift and twist through 180° again, then twist through 90° so that the ends are vertical. Press the edges together firmly. Repeat this process for all pairs of segments.
Place the brioche in a large plastic bag or cover with lightly oiled film. Leave in a warm place for 1-2 hours to prove.
Brush with the glaze then bake at 160°C/320°F fan oven, 180°C/360°F conventional oven for 20-25 minutes.
Place the bread on a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, dust lightly with icing sugar.
Notes
Eat Nutella Brioche Flower as you would, say, cinnamon rolls. It's great for breakfast and with a cup of coffee.
It you are going to mix the dough in a stand mixer let it run for 4 minutes during the initial kneading and just 1 minute for the second kneading.
If your Nutella is a bit difficult to spread simple place the jar in the microwave for 15 seconds with the lid loose, or place in a bath of hot water for 5 minutes.
With thanks to Doreen Grech.
