Chocolate orange swirl bread
Chocolate and orange work so well together and this sweet bread is no exception.
For this recipe you will need a freestanding mixer with a dough hook, a food thermometer, a food processor and a 30x20x6cm/12x8x2½in baking tray.
Ingredients
For the dough
- 120g/4oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
- 150²µ/5½´Ç³ú caster sugar
- 1½ oranges, finely grated zest only
- 4 green cardamom pods, seeds only, ground
- 1½ tsp salt flakes, ground
- 330ml/11fl oz full-fat milk, at room temperature
- 90g/3¼oz 0%-fat Greek strained yoghurt
- 700g/1lb 9oz strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
- 12g/â…“oz fast-action yeast
For the filling
- 115g/4oz dark chocolate (80% cocoa solids), roughly chopped
- 75²µ/2½´Ç³ú ground almonds
- 75²µ/2½´Ç³ú flaked almonds
- ¾ tsp cocoa powder
- ⅔ bird’s-eye chilli, finely chopped and seeds removed
- ¾ tsp ground ginger
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- large pinch freshly grated nutmeg
To finish
- 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp cacao nibs
Method
For the dough, in the bowl of a freestanding mixer cream the butter, sugar, orange zest, cardamom and salt until pale and fluffy.
Mix the milk and yoghurt together, then warm until it reaches body temperature or 37C if using a food thermometer. In a separate bowl, mix the flour with the yeast. Slowly mix the milk mixture into the butter mixture. If it curdles, add a little of the flour mixture, then go back to adding the milk.
Change the attachment on the mixer to a dough hook, then tip the flour on top of the wet ingredients and knead on a low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and knead for 10 minutes.
Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl and cover with cling film. Leave to prove in a warm place for 45 minutes.
For the filling, in a food processor combine the chocolate, both kinds of almonds, cocoa powder, chilli and spices. Pulse until it forms the consistency of breadcrumbs.
Grease a 30x20x6cm/12x8x2½in baking tray and line with greased baking parchment.
Flour the work surface and tip the dough out onto it. Cut away a third of the dough and set aside. Stretch the remaining dough into a rectangle approximately 40x20cm/16x8in.
Cover the dough with two-thirds of the filling mixture, leaving a 1cm/½in gap at the long edge closest to you. Tightly roll up the dough starting with the long edge which is farthest away from you. Use the 1cm/½in strip (that is not covered with filling) to seal the join. Cut the roll into twelve 3cm/1¼in-thick slices and place on the prepared tray.
Stretch out the remaining dough into a 10x30cm/4x12in rectangle. Cover with the remaining filling, leaving a 1cm/½in gap at the long edge closest to you. Cut into six 4cm/1½in thick slices and use them to fill the gaps between the larger rolls. Place in a warm place to prove for a further 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
To finish, brush the top of the buns with beaten egg and sprinkle with cocoa nibs. Bake in the middle of the oven for 30-40 minutes.
Remove from the baking tray and set aside to cool on a wire rack.
