HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2017!

A new culinary journey around the world has been started!

It’s a tradition in Switzerland to eat flower shaped sweet rolls at the 6^th of January. When the pastry will be bought in a bakery store, one of the rolls does hide a little plastic king character in the middle. The lucky one, who has taken the right piece will get a golden crown. A new king is born for one day. Each family member tries to be an expert in finding the right roll. It might be a wise decision to buy more than one of these delicious flower shaped pastries.

Traditionally the dough is sprinkled with raisins. I have substituted raisins for passion fruits and turmeric to give nice fruity taste.

Flower shaped sweet buns with passion fruit

Chef’s Handyman Flower Shaped Sweet Buns

To make dough, place flour, sugar and salt and turmeric in a huge bowl. Melt butter on low heat. Add butter or plant based margarine, soy milk, passion fruits and yeast. Combine all ingredients. Knead well. Cover dough with a humid tea towel and leave for 1.5-2 hours. Allow the dough to double in size. Cut the dates into small cubes. Fold the cubes into the dough and knead well.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form with one third of the dough one roll and with the remaining dough seven smaller ones. Place the center roll on the middle of the baking sheet. Arrange the rest around the center part. Cover the flower with a humid tea towel. Leave for another 20 minutes.

Chef’s Handyman tip: I keep the plastic kings of the last seasons. Every year the kings will be hidden in the middle of one roll. Especially for kids it will be fun to grab the right roll.

Apply soy milk on top of the buns. Sprinkle with decorating sugar and flaked almonds. Bake in preheated oven at 190°C or 375°F for 22-25 minutes or until golden. Take out and cool.

Shopping list for the flower shaped sweet buns, about 800-900 g or 25-28 oz.: 500 g or 16 oz.  flour, 100 g or 3.5 oz. sugar, 1 tbsp. yeast, 2 tbsp. decorating sugar, 2 tbsp. almond flakes, 70 g or 2.5 oz. butter or plant based margarine, 1 cup soy milk, 1 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. turmeric, 4 passion fruits.

Have a great start, yours Chef’s Handyman team!