Maple-Glazed Cardamom Twists
James Carrier
Yields Makes 24 twists
Notes: Soften butter in the microwave or at warm room temperature until very soft but not melted. You can make the dough the day before you fry the twists; cover and chill.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

In the bowl of a standing mixer or another large bowl, stir yeast into 1/4 cup warm (110°) water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. With a wooden spoon, stir in sugar, milk, and eggs (or beat in with paddle attachment); stir or beat in 2 3/4 cups flour, salt, and cardamom (dough will be soft and sticky). Stir or beat in butter, a few chunks at a time, until well incorporated.

Step 2
2

If using a mixer: Continue to beat at medium-low speed until dough pulls from sides of bowl, 4 to 5 minutes; add up to 1/4 cup more flour if necessary. Scrape dough down if it crawls up beater or sides of bowl. Remove beater and scrape clean. Scrape dough onto a well-floured board and knead briefly to bring together.

Step 3
3

If mixing by hand: Scrape dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and velvety, about 5 minutes, adding more flour as needed to prevent sticking.

Step 4
4

Return to bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place until dough has doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Step 5
5

Scrape dough onto lightly floured board and press gently to expel air. Divide into 24 equal pieces. With floured hands, divide each piece in half. Form each half into a rope about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch thick. Twist the two ropes together, pinching ends together. Place twists about 1 inch apart on a floured baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until nearly doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Step 6
6

Meanwhile, fill an electric deep-fryer to the fill line or pour about 4 inches of oil into a 5- to 6-quart pan and heat to 375°. With a wide spatula, gently slide two twists into oil, one at a time. Cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes total. With a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat to fry remaining twists.

Step 7
7

When cool enough to handle, dip top half of warm twists in maple glaze. Place on a plate or rack and let stand until glaze is set, about 2 minutes.

Step 8
8

Maple glaze: In a bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon milk until smooth.

Step 9
9

Nutritional analysis per twist.

Ingredients

 1 package active dry yeast
 3 tablespoons sugar
 1/2 cup milk
 2 large eggs, lightly beaten to blend
  About 3 cups all-purpose flour
 1 teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
 1/3 cup butter, softened (see notes) and cut into chunks
 6 to 8 cups vegetable oil for frying
  Maple glaze (recipe follows)

Directions

Step 1
1

In the bowl of a standing mixer or another large bowl, stir yeast into 1/4 cup warm (110°) water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. With a wooden spoon, stir in sugar, milk, and eggs (or beat in with paddle attachment); stir or beat in 2 3/4 cups flour, salt, and cardamom (dough will be soft and sticky). Stir or beat in butter, a few chunks at a time, until well incorporated.

Step 2
2

If using a mixer: Continue to beat at medium-low speed until dough pulls from sides of bowl, 4 to 5 minutes; add up to 1/4 cup more flour if necessary. Scrape dough down if it crawls up beater or sides of bowl. Remove beater and scrape clean. Scrape dough onto a well-floured board and knead briefly to bring together.

Step 3
3

If mixing by hand: Scrape dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and velvety, about 5 minutes, adding more flour as needed to prevent sticking.

Step 4
4

Return to bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place until dough has doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Step 5
5

Scrape dough onto lightly floured board and press gently to expel air. Divide into 24 equal pieces. With floured hands, divide each piece in half. Form each half into a rope about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch thick. Twist the two ropes together, pinching ends together. Place twists about 1 inch apart on a floured baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until nearly doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Step 6
6

Meanwhile, fill an electric deep-fryer to the fill line or pour about 4 inches of oil into a 5- to 6-quart pan and heat to 375°. With a wide spatula, gently slide two twists into oil, one at a time. Cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes total. With a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat to fry remaining twists.

Step 7
7

When cool enough to handle, dip top half of warm twists in maple glaze. Place on a plate or rack and let stand until glaze is set, about 2 minutes.

Step 8
8

Maple glaze: In a bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon milk until smooth.

Step 9
9

Nutritional analysis per twist.

Maple-Glazed Cardamom Twists

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