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Orange Swirls

17/11/2023

Orange swirls are yeasted sweet pastries with a beloved citrus flavor and aroma, perfect for breakfast or as a snack. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of type 00 flour
  • 25 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 200 ml of warm milk
  • 70 g of soft butter
  • Grated zest of 2 oranges
  • 1 egg
  • 1 pinch of salt

For the filling:

  • 100 g of sugar
  • 70 g of soft butter
  • Grated zest of 1 orange
  • Juice of 1 orange

For the glaze:

  • Juice of 1 orange
  • 150 g of icing sugar

Preparation

  1. Start by dissolving the brewer’s yeast in the warm milk with a spoonful of sugar taken from the total amount.
  2. In a large bowl, sift the flour and make a well in the center. Add the egg, softened butter in small pieces, grated zest of the two oranges, salt, and the remaining sugar.
  3. Begin to incorporate the ingredients and add the dissolved yeast in the milk. Knead until you get a smooth and homogenous dough. If necessary, add a bit more flour. The dough should be soft but not too sticky.
  4. Cover with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until it doubles in volume.
  5. In the meantime, prepare the filling by mixing the soft butter with the sugar and the remaining orange zest. Then add the orange juice to obtain a spreadable cream.
  6. Take the risen dough and spread it out on a floured surface, forming a rectangle about 5 mm thick.
  7. Spread the orange cream over the rolled-out dough and gently roll it up from the long side to form a log.
  8. Cut the log into slices about 2 cm thick, obtaining the swirls.
  9. Arrange the swirls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each one.
  10. Let them rise again for about 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 180 °C.
  11. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the swirls turn golden.
  12. Prepare the glaze by mixing the orange juice with the icing sugar until you get a fluid consistency but not too runny.
  13. Once out of the oven, brush the still warm swirls with the prepared glaze.

Let them cool and they are ready to be served!

Curiosity

The orange swirl comes from the typical tradition of using citrus in pastry, especially in the Mediterranean basin. The orange, with its fresh and slightly tart taste, pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the yeasted preparations, creating a delightful combination. In some variations, you might also find the addition of raisins or candied fruit to further enrich the taste.

Orange Swirls