Sunday, September 4, 2011

Cinnamon Fingers


I was craving doughnuts, but I try to stay away from deep frying these days.  These baked treats turned beautifully and fixed me right up.  I definitely recommend noshing while they are warm from the oven. So very good.

The filling is the crumb top from the Kitchenarian's New York Style Crumb Cake.  I was quite pleased with the buttery, cinnamony goodness.


Cinnamon Fingers

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm skim milk
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup oil
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbls vital wheat gluten (optional)

Topping:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.  Stir in milk, honey, oil, and salt.  Mix in one cup of flour and vital wheat gluten.  Mix in egg and enough flour to make a soft dough.  Turn dough out onto floured board and knead for 5 to 8 minutes, adding flour as necessary.  Place in covered bowl and let rise for one hour.

While dough is rising assemble the filling.  Stir together both sugars, salt, and cinnamon, and butter in a medium bowl. Fold in the flour until well combined.  Set aside.

Turn dough back out on floured board and divide into 12 to 15 pieces.  Take one piece and roll it into a rope.  Flatten the rope out into a rough rectangle.  Crumble some filling down the center of the the dough.  Fold the edges together over the filling and pinch closed.  Place on greased cookie sheet, pinch side down.  Repeat with remaining dough.

Brush fingers with melted butter.  Bake at 375 for 15 to 18 minutes or until dough is nicely browned.

Mix cinnamon and sugar together.  When fingers come out of the oven, brush again with butter and dredge through cinnamon sugar mixture.  Set on rack to cool.



29 comments:

  1. I haven't eaten a donut in yonks, I need to try this no bake version

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  2. After living my year in hell working at a Dunkin Donuts, I haven't been able to stomach a fried cake donut. Even now, thinking about the monstrous industrial fryers in the back of the shop... I'm getting light headed.

    These bakes beauties look wonderful. I love the idea of stuffing them with the crumb topping.

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  3. You are so good for not frying! What a great treat.

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  4. oh my lord these are GENIUS!!!.. i love the idea of them being baked, so excellent, what a brilliant recipe... thanks!

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  5. Oh lovely! I like this even better than doughnuts :)

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  6. These look SO good! I love that they are baked and that filling inside looks to die for!

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  7. Oh! What an amazing treat! Who needs doughnuts? :)

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  8. My mouth is watering! These sound way better than doughnuts. YUM!

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  9. I love the crumb topping as a filling idea and of course, the baked donut! Now I am craving donuts! What is it about cinnamon sugar that fills and satisfies that need for donughts? Lovely!

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  10. What a great idea to put the topping as a filling!

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  11. I love that these have a filling! Awesome idea to bake instead of fry too - almost guiltless. Not that it matters sine this weekend marks then END of swimsuit season. Woo hoo! :)

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  12. I love that these have a filling! Awesome idea to bake instead of fry too - almost guiltless. Not that it matters sine this weekend marks then END of swimsuit season. Woo hoo! :)

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  13. wowow, they look spectacular. My kids and husband would be all over this!

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  14. Great way to get a cinnamon fix. Outside of cinnamon toast-getting a cinnamon treat in the morning usually involves making a whole coffee cake. These are a nice alternative to all that. Well done-yum!

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  15. Oh these look fantastic...the perfect breakfast treat! Love the idea of a crumb topping as a filling!

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  16. Dang... Those look great! Wonderful breakfast treat to go with a giant cup of coffee! Love it!

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  17. baked doughs, an excellent technique on healthy eating. they look delicious too...yummy, i like it hot for tea. yay

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  18. These look awesome, all filled with crumby cinnamon filling!

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  19. Wow. DELICIOUS!!! They looks so awesome. I favor baked donuts to fried ones.

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  20. Yum, all the flavour of a cinnamon donut and no deep frying? Yes please! (Just means I can have more, lol)

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  21. Oh these are so good looking..I love your recipe, and photos are truly mouthwatering!! Yum!

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  22. Buttery, cinnamony goodness? YUM! I can totally appreciate that you didn't deep fry these. These could be dangerous...love it! ;)

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  23. Mmm what a great substitute for doughnuts! They look packed full of flavor and delicious :)

    Sues

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  24. Jum cinnamon! And there is stuffing as well? Dubble JUM!

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  25. I think I'd have to make a double batch. Lovin that filling, yummy!

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  26. Will definitely be trying these, they look so good. Also great they are not deep fried. It's not a health thing, I don't have a deep fryer and do not like the mess of hot oil everywhere.

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  27. It's always good to find an alternative to deep frying when craving buttery deliciousness. These are cinnamony heaven and I want some now!

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  28. i'm so afraid of deep frying! I love your version. SO much healthier!
    Now I wish I had a couple ...

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