Description
A soft, buttery twist bread infused with bright orange zest and warm cardamom spice, topped with a sweet citrus glaze. This easy yeast bread is perfect for beginners and makes a beautiful centerpiece for breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- ¾ cup milk, warmed to about 110°F
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (½ teaspoon if using table salt)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and grated
Filling
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinch of kosher salt
Glaze
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice (fresh or store-bought)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Warm the milk slightly and pour it into a bowl or large measuring cup. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes bubbly and frothy.
- Mix the dough base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the yeast mixture with the egg, sugar, and salt. Grate cold butter into the mixture, then add the flour and gently mix by hand or with a dough hook until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead and rise: Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Roll and fill the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rough rectangle about ½ inch thick. Spread the softened butter evenly over the surface using your hands or a pastry brush. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, flour, orange zest, cardamom, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle this mixture over the buttered dough.
- Shape the twist: Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log and pinch the seam closed. Place the seam-side down and slice the roll lengthwise, leaving one end attached. Twist the two strands together gently, keeping the cut sides facing up. Coil the twisted dough into a circle and transfer it to a buttered skillet or baking dish.
- Second rise: Cover the dough and let it rest for another hour in a warm place, allowing it to puff up before baking.
- Bake the bread: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the twist uncovered for 25 minutes until golden brown, then cover loosely with foil and bake for another 10 minutes to ensure the center cooks through.
- Make and apply the glaze: While the bread cools slightly, whisk the confectioner’s sugar and orange juice together until smooth. Drizzle the glaze generously over the warm twist so it soaks into the crevices.
Notes
- Cold grated butter in the dough helps create flaky layers similar to laminated pastries. This bread is best enjoyed warm but holds up well at room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat briefly before serving. To elevate the flavor, try adding chopped nuts or dried cranberries to the filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg