CINNAMON CRESCENTS

Cinnamon Crescents image

Provided by Rebecca Rather

Yield Makes about 32

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 package active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
Pinch of sugar
1/4 cup lukewarm water (105° to 115°F)
2 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Grated zest of 1 medium orange (preferably organic)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Steps:

Melt the butter and let it cool for about 15 minutes. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the 1/4 cup warm water; let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes. (If it does not bubble or increase in volume, the yeast is dead.)
Place 2 cups of the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Pour into the well the beaten eggs, yeast mixture, and melted butter and mix together with a large wooden spoon or-if, like me, you love the feel of dough-with your hands. Add the remaining 1/2 cup flour, orange zest, and salt and mix thoroughly. The dough will be somewhat soft. Gently pat it into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. In a small bowl, toss the raisins with the Grand Marnier. Cover overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a baking pan with cooking spray or butter, or line it with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and divide it into 4 equal parts. Dust a work surface with a liberal amount of cinnamon sugar. Using a rolling pin, roll out each portion of dough 1/4 inch thick on the sugar-coated work surface. After each stroke with the rolling pin, flip the dough, adding more cinnamon sugar to the work surface as needed. Cut the dough into 2-inch triangles. (Dough scraps can reformed into a ball and rolled out at least once.) Sprinkle a thin layer of cinnamon sugar on each dough triangle. Scoop 1 teaspoon of the macerated raisins onto the wide end of the triangle; roll up the dough beginning at the wide end. Place the crescents on the prepared baking sheet and bake until they are lightly golden brown, about 20 minutes.
do it early
The crescents can be made up to 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container. Wrap securely and freeze for up to 3 weeks. Unwrap and defrost the day you plan to serve them.