Chocolate-orange pastries

These were beautiful and very easy to prepare. The children loved them, and they disappeared in just a few minutes. Orange and chocolate are a great combination, but the warm spices add an extra twist to these delicious rolls.

Ingredients

3.5 cups flour

0.25 cup brown sugar

1 packet yeast

1 tsp salt

1 cup milk

75g butter

zest of an orange (1 tsp, packed)

1 egg

Filling:

6 tbsp butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp cinnamon

0.25 tsp cloves

1 tsp orange zest

0.125 tsp salt

Preparation

Bloom the yeast with a portion of the sugar in the milk. Add in the melted butter and the egg. Mix in the orange zest, flour, and salt. Knead well until elastic dough forms. This can be done in a Kitchenaid mixer.

Cover and allow to double in size.

Meanwhile, mix the filling. Mix the spices with the sugar. Add in the melted butter and set aside.

Roll out the dough into 24-by-12-inch rectangle, about a 0.25-inch thick. 

Spread half with the filling and fold over the unfilled half. 

Butter a muffin shape. Cut the dough into 12 strips and cut each strip so it has three "legs" (see on pictures). Twist and braid those and place each roll into a muffin cup, with the uncut part on the bottom.

Allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Bake in a preheated 400F oven until light brown.