Tuesdays with Dorie: Brioche Raisin Snails
March 18, 2008 at 2:48 am | Posted in breakfast things, groups, sweet things, sweet yeast breads, tuesdays with dorie | 32 Comments
Ah yes, it’s that day of the week again, and Peabody has chosen Dorie’s Brioche Raisin Snails as the recipe for this round of TWD. I imagine this would be an ideal breakfast treat, but R & I moved faster than a speeding snail and ate them for dessert just a few hours after I made them.
Actually this recipe is a few recipes in one, beginning with brioche dough. It’s not hard to make (especially if you have a stand mixer to do the dirty-work for you), but requires a some time and patience, as it needs to spend a night in the fridge before it’s ready to shape. I strayed from Dorie’s advice in her opener for Golden Brioche Loaves (which is the base for the snails) and did half a recipe…it came out just fine. Once the brioche dough has had its beauty sleep, it’s rolled out and smeared with pastry cream (I don’t think I’ve ever baked pastry cream before!) and rum-flamed raisins. I said last time that I am not a raisin fan, so here I used dried cherries in lieu, as I knew they’d be nice with the rum. Then it gets rolled up and sliced into rounds– hence the whole “snail” thing.
Like I said, we ate these the day they were made, and they were really nice…soft and slightly boozy. Of course I glazed them, which Dorie says is optional (but in my books is mandatory). I only turned a portion of my dough into snails…I froze the rest as Pecan Honey Sticky Buns for another time. Yum!
You can find the recipe on Peabody’s site (her version includes a few yummy-looking modifications to the original) or in the book Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan. And head over to the Tuesdays with Dorie space to see all the other snails crawling around the blogosphere.
P.S.: I’ll be on vacation by the time you see this. I’m not sure about the internet situation, as I’ll be a tourist in lands unknown to me…so if I can’t comment on your posts for a few weeks, please forgive me!
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a whisk and a spoon 
Your snails look great!!!!!
Have a nice trip!!
Comment by noskos— March 18, 2008 #
Looking good! I had such a good time making these, and I definitely plan on making them again!
Comment by mari— March 18, 2008 #
Great job with Peabody’s challenge. I’m saving mine for the easter weekend, when we’ll have house guests to help us consume them…
Comment by Dolores— March 18, 2008 #
Steph – these look so soft and full of lovely flavours.
Have a great holiday!
Comment by Nicisme— March 18, 2008 #
They look amazing! Just like I envisioned – buttery swirls of goodness. I skipped the glaze, but your pictures are making me rethink the future of the remaining rolls in my freezer… How did the cherries come out then? I’m having difficulty imagining how they would taste, especially compared to the raisins – maybe more tart than sweet?
Comment by Caitlin— March 18, 2008 #
They look delish! Love the little purple snail on your picture. LOL.
-Clara
Comment by CB— March 18, 2008 #
The glaze on yours gives the snails that extra oomph. I left mine off sadly. This was a fun recipe not to mention extremely tasty. I had to limit myself to just one sadly, but I put the rest in the freezer for future good eats. Have a great vacation!
Comment by amanda— March 18, 2008 #
Lovely! Have a great vacation!
Comment by Natalie— March 18, 2008 #
those look super-yum. . . and i can’t imagine them lasting long (for dinner or breakfast or dessert or when EVER).
Comment by kate— March 18, 2008 #
Mmm. They look delicious! I hate raisins too so I chose to sit out of this challenge but after seeing that you used dried cherries I wish I had done that!
Comment by icedventi— March 18, 2008 #
They look perfect! You’re making me want to make more of them, we ate all of ours allready!
Comment by lemontartlet— March 18, 2008 #
They look beautiful! Nice work!!
Comment by Annemarie— March 18, 2008 #
They look delicious! Have a great vacation.
Comment by Judy— March 18, 2008 #
Glaze is never optional 🙂
Fabulous job…they look lovely.
Comment by peabody— March 18, 2008 #
Beautiful snail, and have a great trip!
Comment by Madam Chow— March 18, 2008 #
They look so delicious! I wasn’t able to make them, but was thinking I would’ve done the same thing…1/2 snails, 1/2 sticky buns. Those sticky buns look irrisistable!
Comment by Andrea— March 18, 2008 #
Lovely snails. I like the golden color. Good for you for making half recipes, I too was wary about baking pastry cream. All tasted good though.
Comment by Gretchen Noelle— March 18, 2008 #
Your snails are GORGEOUS!
Comment by Landa— March 19, 2008 #
Your snails look gorgeous! Well done!
Comment by Marie— March 19, 2008 #
Great looking snail, I did it like you and halved the recipe!
Comment by Ulrike aka ostwestwind— March 19, 2008 #
They look delicious! Great job! Enjoy your vacation!
Comment by Heather— March 19, 2008 #
Your snails look great! I hope you have a nice trip!
Comment by Erin— March 19, 2008 #
You always have the best pics! Great job and have a fun vacay!!
Comment by Rachel— March 19, 2008 #
i was planning on glazing them too, but they were so good plain!!
i hope you have an amazing time in south america! 🙂
Comment by Jaime— March 19, 2008 #
Why would anyone choose NOT to glaze something? Unfathomable.
I made the sticky buns with my other half of the brioche dough, and they were amazing! Nothing subtle about them whatsoever.
Comment by Rebecca— March 19, 2008 #
I hope you have a wonderful vacation! The snails were my favorites as a child in the afternoon (no wonder I grew up with a weight issue!!) They turned out fantastic!
Comment by Tartelette— March 19, 2008 #
I’m with you on glaze being a requirement. Did you use vanilla bean in yours? I think I see little flecks in there, but am not sure.
Enjoy your travels.
Comment by Danielle— March 19, 2008 #
Of course you have to glaze them. I wouldn’t expect otherwise. Just an amazing creation. Have a great vacation.
Comment by Cheryl— March 19, 2008 #
These look so gorgeous! (And I’m with you on the glaze; if you’re going to do it you might as well do it properly XD). I love brioche!
Have a great holiday!
Comment by Indigo— March 20, 2008 #
these are fantastic!
Comment by marye— March 23, 2008 #
Everyone is killing me with these snails! Yum!!
Comment by Chris— March 24, 2008 #
Steph, these came out beautifully!!!
Comment by smellslikehome— March 26, 2008 #