115gbutter (melted) plus extra for greasing the pan
1orange zested - generous 2 tbsp
1cuppecans or walnuts roughly chopped
60ggolden raisins
1tspsalt
1tspcinnamon
½tspvanilla
pinchnutmeg
1tspmixed spiceoptional - I didn't use
Buttery Glaze
½cupsoft brown sugar
60mlsour cream or cream
50gbutter
1juice and zest of a small orange
1 tsplemon zest
Instructions
Ideally use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Dissolve the yeast in a tablespoon of warm water with ½ tsp fine sugar.
While the yeast is starting to foam, melt the butter with the orange zest, cinnamon and nutmeg. Whisk and measure out six tablespoons of the melted butter mixture into the mixer with 50g sugar, the eggs, salt, kefir or yoghurt and flour.
Mix slowly and gently until you have smooth elastic dough. About 8 minutes. Cover and leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size. Approx two hours.
Remove the dough from the mixer and knead lightly. Cut equally into two, pull loosely into balls, dust with flour and leave to rest.
In a small bowl, mix the remaining sugar, raisins and ¾ of the nuts. Grease a 23 x 33 cm baking dish or line with baking paper, making sure you leave enough paper outside the dish to lift the cake.
Roll out one of the dough balls onto a floured surface into a 30cm diameter circle. Brush with half of what's left of the butter mixture, and then sprinkle the surface with half of your sugar, nuts and raisins.
Cut the circle into 12 equal triangles and then roll up from the triangle's base to the tip to create a mini croissant shape.🥐 Pinch to seal. Arrange around the edge of the dish, working outside in, the pointy end of the triangle facing upwards. Repeat with the second ball of dough. Cover and leave to rise again for about 1 - 1½ hours.
Bake on the middle shelf, in a pre-heated oven at 180°c for 30-35 minutes. Ready when gently golden brown.
Orange Buttery Glaze
Put all the ingredients, except the sour cream, into a saucepan and over low heat melt the sugar and butter. When melted whisk in the cream, keep whisking, bring to a boil and then heat until you have a silky sauce. No more than 2-3 minutes.
To Serve
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, sprinkle over a little cinnamon together with the remaining nuts. Pour over the buttery sauce and leave to set.
Serve warm, straight from the dish or lift and serve on a large board with plenty of chat and steaming coffee.☕️
Notes
Read through the recipe carefully.It's not tricky - working out how to cut the circle into 12 triangles bends your mind a little bit, but after that, you roll from the outside in and hey presto, small croissant shaped delights.Don't skimp on melting the butter with the orange rind - it adds to the flavour.Adapted from Jared Downing's Grandmothers' recipe.