Chocolate Braids Recipes

Steps:

• Use a spatula to spread the chocolate hazelnut spread evenly over 1 puff pastry sheet, leaving a ¼-inch (6 mm) border all around. Brush the border with egg wash. Place the other sheet of puff pastry on top.
• Cut the pastry sheets into 9 squares.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200˚C). Grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
• Take 1 square and make 5 even cuts crosswise across the center. Do not cut all the way through the edges.
• Take 2 fingers and place them under the first cut, then over the next. Repeat until your fingers reach all the way through the square. Use the other hand to feed the farthest corner through the gap your fingers created. Gently pull the corner all the way through to form a braid. Repeat with the rest of the squares.
• Transfer the braids to the prepared baking sheet and brush with egg wash.
• Bake for 14 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Lay out your puff pastry. Place your chocolate bar in the center, cut diagonal lines along the left and right side of the chocolate bar about an inch apart.
• Remove the corner pieces. Starting from the top, fold down the flap then alternate right and left until you are close to the bottom. Fold the bottom flap up and finish alternating between right and left. Tuck any extra puff pastry underneath.
• Place the braided puff pastry on parchment paper lined baking tray. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle crushed nuts over.
• Bake at 415°F (213°C) for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Unfold the puff pastry. Spread the chocolate hazelnut spread onto the middle third.
• Arrange the sliced bananas on top of the spread in a single layer. Bananas may slightly overlap.
• Preheat oven to 400°F (220°C)
• Cut out a triangle of the top right corner of the pastry. Repeat on the other side.
• Cut diagonal slits along both sides of the pastry. Each will be around 1 inch (2 ½ cm) thick.
• Fold over the top piece of dough to partially cover the top row of bananas.
• Alternating both sides, fold the strips of pastry over the bananas, mimicking a braid pattern.
• Trim the excess dough on the sides, and fold over the bottom flap.
• Brush the top of the braided pastry with the beaten egg. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet for and bake 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
• Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and warm milk and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• In large mixing bowl, add the egg, egg yolks, vanilla, sugar, and honey and whisk to combine.
• Add in the milk and yeast mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
• Gradually add in the flour and mix until fully incorporated.
• Gradually add in the butter and mix until fully incorporated.
• Cover with a towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Bring out the dough onto floured work surface and knead until smooth.
• Divide the dough into two equal parts and place in bowls and cover each with plastic wrap. Let the dough sit at room temperature for at least two hours, or when it has doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• For the chocolate sauce, combine bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, espresso powder, and turbinado sugar in a medium sized mixing bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes. Stir to combine and set aside.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer to a floured work surface and roll both pieces of dough into a rectangle roughly 10x15-inches.
• Cover the dough with half of the chocolate sauce leaving an ½ inch - 1 inch of room on all sides.
• Gently roll the dough up and repeat with second piece of dough and remaining chocolate sauce.
• Using a bench scraper or a knife, carefully cut each log vertically in half making sure the seam is side down.
• Lay one piece of dough horizontally and lay another piece over it vertically so you have a rough 'plus sign'.
• Lay another piece horizontally over the vertical piece and above the other horizontal piece.
• Lay the final piece vertically on the right of the other vertical piece having it go over the top horizontal piece but weaving it under the lower horizontal piece.
• Starting with the bottom vertical piece on the right side, bring it to the left layering it over the other vertical lower piece.
• Follow this method around the dough clockwise.
• Once returned to the bottom lower vertical pieces. Take the original piece you crossed over (the lower left vertical piece) and cross that over to the right layering it over the last piece you used. Continue this counterclockwise until back at the bottom or you are unable to layer the dough anymore.
• Tuck in the excess pieces of dough under the bread.
• Transfer the bread into a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and brush with egg wash.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
• In a small bowl, melt the chocolate chips.
• Cut puff pastry in half.
• Cut slits 1 inch (2 cm) apart on both ends of the pastry, leaving the middle section untouched.
• Spread half of the chocolate spread and sliced strawberries on the center third.
• Starting at one end, fold the pastry strips over the chocolate/strawberry mixture, alternating sides until mixture is completely covered.
• Repeat for second half of puff pastry.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes.
• Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
• Lay out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Imagine the pastry has 3 equal sections. Add the hazelnut spread to the center section and, using a knife, cover the center section with the spread, leaving a 1/2-inch border at the top and bottom. Sprinkle the peanuts over the chocolate hazelnut spread.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the 2 outside sections into six 1-inch horizontal strips just to the center section.
• Fold the 1/2-inch borders at the top and bottom inwards, over the edges of the chocolate filling. Next, starting at one end, begin folding the pastry strips over the filling, alternating the sides to create a braid appearance. Put the braid on the parchment-lined sheet pan.
• Brush the pastry braid with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the sea salt. Bake until golden and cooked through, 28 to 30 minutes.
• While the pastry bakes, make the icing by whisking the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Allow the pastry to cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Drizzle over the icing, slice and serve.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 2 teaspoons honey; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the butter, egg, cocoa, salt and 1 1/2 cups bread flour and remaining honey. Beat for 2 mintues or until smooth. Stir in enough remaining bread flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down; divide in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion into a 12 x 7" rectangle. In a small mixing bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread half of the filling over dough to within 1" of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal.
• Place seam side down on a large greased baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut roll in half lengthwise, leaving one end intact. Carefully turn cut sides up. Loosely twist strips around each other, keeping cut side up. Pinch ends to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• For topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Add nuts. Sprinkle over loaves.
• Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over loaves.