Baking for Valentine’s Day with your Bread Machine

Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls Recipe:

(Makes 12 cinnamon rolls)

This is a classic cinnamon roll recipe that has been proven in all bread machines. That’s easy to say because it’s essentially a dough that comes out of the dough course that you finish on the table and in the oven. This recipe also has an extra step: shaping the cinnamon roll into a heart shape. We’ll show you how in steps and photos. After that, you’re on your own.

INGREDIENTS:

Dough:

• 1 cup warm milk (110° F./43° C.)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• ¹⁄₃ cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¹⁄₂ cup white sugar
• 4 ¹⁄₂cups bread flour
• 2 ¹⁄₂teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling:

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 ¹⁄₂tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 3 ounces cream cheese softened
• ¹⁄₄ cup butter softened
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt

Glaze:

• 1 ¹⁄₂ cups confectioner’s sugar
• cold water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put all of the ingredients in the bread pan in the order indicated and select the dough course. When done, dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out until about a 1/2 inch thick. Let rise while you make the filling.
2. To make the filling combine the brown sugar, cinnamon salt and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Mix the butter and cream cheese combination until well blended and then carefully spread the mixture over the top of the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the surface and smooth with your hand to distribute. Preheat oven to 375° F./190° C.
3. Starting at one edge, roll up the sheet of dough into a log and with a very sharp knife cut the log into 12 equal sized circles of dough. Using the back edge of a knife, make an indentation along one edge of the dough rounds and pull towards the center. You’re beginning to make a heart shape. Using the sides of two knives or spatulas press the dough round together at the bottom opposite the indentation to finish the heart shape. Arrange the heart shaped cinnamon rolls on a lighted buttered baking sheet and bake at 375° F./190° C. for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
4. While the rolls are baking make the glaze out of confectioner’s sugar and water. Add a very little bit of water to the powdered sugar in a mixing bowl and stir with a spoon until you have a creamy consistency. When the cinnamon rolls are done, remove from the oven and place on a platter. Let them cool for about 5 minutes and then drizzle the glaze over the tops of each roll. Serve

Heart Shaped Pizza Recipe:

(Makes two 14 inch thin crust pizzas)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 2/3 cups of water (80°F./27°C)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon dry milk
• 3 1/4 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS:

1. Select Pizza Dough Course or the basic dough course if your machine does not have a pizza dough setting. When cycle is complete place on a lightly floured surface. If making two thin crusts, divided in half. For one thick crust begin to roll out the dough with a flour dusted rolling pin and push and pull dough into shape raising the edges. The easiest way to make a heart shape out of pizza dough is to cut it with a pizza cutter. Remember the old grade school trick for how to make a heart from a piece of paper. To do this, dust the surface of the dough with flour and spread it around with your hand. Fold the dough in half with one side overlapping the other and cut half of a heart shape. Pull away the excess dough and unfold the heart.
2. Spread a pizza sauce over the top (this could be as simple as a canned tomato sauce) and sprinkle with your toppings.
3. Bake in a preheated oven set at 425°F/218°C for 20 minutes or until crust is a golden brown.
4. You can top your pizza with just about anything so experiment and have fun.

Soft Pretzels Recipe:

(Makes 16 pretzels)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/4 cups of water (80°F./27°C.)
• 1 egg yolk at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
• 3 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS:

1. Select dough course. When dough cycle is complete remove dough to a lightly floured surface and cut dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece with both hands to form a 16-inch rope of dough. Fold the dough into a heart shape.
2. Place on a greased baking sheet and brush with a glaze of 1 egg white and 1 tbsp of water beaten together. Top with coarse sea salt and/or parmesan cheese, course sugar like “Sugar in the raw,” or whatever toppings you like. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F/190°C for 15 to 20 minutes or until browned.