Cinnamon Cream Brioche

These cinnamon cream brioche pastries are the perfect breakfast-in-bed – fluffy discs of buttery brioche dough filled with a rich cinnamon pastry cream filling.

I made you breakfast.

Like, a month ago.

And then…we kind of ate it all.

Can you ever forgive me??

I mean, if I were you, I might not.

Because these are really good and there are approximately thirty days of your life that you had to go without them. And it didn’t need to be that way.

My bad.

But you guys are nicer/much less vindictive than I am.

And it’s VALENTINE’S DAY.

Which is like…the holiday of love and forgiveness…

…and eating pastry for breakfast in bed.

Let’s make it happen.

These cinnamon cream brioche pastries are going to require an overnight stint in the refrigerator, so I suggest whipping up the brioche and the pastry cream the night before the morning of.

Then, the next morning you’re only about an hour away from warm buttery brioche cinnamon heaven pastry cream goodness. Half of which is spent sitting/staring through your oven door/counting down the minutes.

It may very well end up being the longest hour of your life. But I promise it will be so worth it.

You can just send on over those forgiveness notes by Sunday morning. I’ll be waiting.

(Happy Valentine’s Day!!)

Two years ago…Mango and Black Bean Casserole

Three years ago…Pasta with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Feta and Arugula

Four years ago…Chicken with Caramelized Baby Onions and Honey

Five years ago…Mashed Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Cinnamon Cream Brioche

 

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These cinnamon-cream brioche pastries are the perfect breakfast-in-bed - fluffy discs of buttery brioche dough filled with a rich cinnamon pastry cream filling.

Yield: 8 pastries

Ingredients

For the brioche

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp (157 g) all purpose flour
• 1 cup + 2 tbsp (170 g) bread flour
• 1½ tsp active dry yeast
• ⅙ cup (40 g) sugar
• ½ tbsp kosher salt
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup plus 3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into small dice

For the pastry cream

• 1¼ cups milk
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup cake flour
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the pastry

• 1½ cups creme fraiche
• 1¼ cups sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

For the brioche

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the all purpose flour, bread flour, yeast, salt, eggs, and ¼ cup water. Beat on low until all of the ingredients come together, about 3 minutes, scraping the side of the bowl as needed. Beat on low speed for an additional 3-4 minutes. The dough will be stiff and dry.
2. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter, one piece at a time, only adding the next until the former has been incorporated. Mix on low speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, for 10 minutes.
3. Increase the mixer to medium speed and beat for another 15 minutes. The dough should be sticky, soft, and shiny. Increase the speed to high and beat for 1 minute. Gather up the dough and transfer to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it down directly onto the surface of the dough. Let proof in the refrigerator overnight.

For the pastry cream

1. Heat the milk over medium-high heat in a saucepan until small bubbles start to form along the side of the pan. In a separate bowl, stir together the sugar, flour and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks together, then slowly whisk in the flour/sugar mixture.
2. Slowly add the milk to the egg/sugar/flour mix, whisking constantly. When it has been fully incorporated, add the new mixture to the saucepan and heat over medium, whisking constantly, for 3 minutes or until the mixture thickens and starts to boil. After the mixture starts to boil, whisk it vigorously for 10 seconds, and then remove from the heat.
3. Push the custard through a fine-mesh sieve, into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the vanilla and cover with plastic wrap, placing it directly onto the surface of the cream. Refrigerate overnight.

For the pastry

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Shape the brioche into a rectangle that is 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. Cut the rectangle into eight squares.
3. Stretch each square into a circle that is about 5 inches in diameter. The inner part of the circle should be pretty thin, while the edges should be thicker. Place onto one of the parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough, placing 4 on each baking sheet.
4. Spread about 2 tbsp of the pastry cream over the base of each brioche circle. Place 3 tbsp of the creme fraiche on top of the pastry cream in each brioche circle, leaving the rim untouched. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the creme fraiche center as well as the rim of each brioche pastry.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, switching the pans halfway through baking. The brioche should be golden brown along the edge. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Adapted from Flour, Too: Indispensable Recipes for the Cafe's Most Loved Sweets & Savories

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 pastry

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