A delicious afternoon treat
Bread is my thing and I particularly love making sweet doughs.
I turned to Fou de Patisserie for ideas. If you read French, this publication is an absolute must if you like patisserie. Every two months, France’s finest patissiers and bakers share their creations. Some recipes are shown step-by-step, and there are plenty of tips for successful bakes. However, there is no concessions. These are top notch creations often with a very long lists of ingredients.
The babas caught my eye. Not just rum babas, but ones flavoured with plums, strawberries and event chestnuts. I was hooked! The fact that I’d not made a baba before didn’t put me off. Try anything once!
The original rum baba was said to have been invented in 1730 in rue Montorgeuil by Nicholas Stohrer who was patissier to Stanislas the 1st, King of Poland. He was said to have invented the recipe to rescue a mix that was far too dry.
This is my interpretation of the French recipe which was devised by Guy Krenzer of Lenotre. You do need a bit of patience with this one. Leave yourself plenty of time.
Berry Babas Recipe
Berry Babas
Ingredients
Baba Dough
- 250 grams strong white flour
- 10 grams fresh yeast
- 20 grams caster sugar
- 50 millilitres milk
- 2 egg large approx 100 ml
- 60 grams butter preferably President or Lurpack
- 5 grams salt
Syrup
- 150 grams strawberries or blackberries
- 150 grams granulated sugar
- 50 millilitres flavouring eg Grand Marnier, Rum, cointreau, creme de mur
Instructions
- For the Babas
- Prepare your cases. First fill one with water to find out the capacity. Mine held 60 ml of water, so I decided to fill with 50 gr dough. If yours are larger, the dough should be 90% of the amount of water.
- Oil them well even if supposedly non-stick
- Place all the ingredients except the butter into the bowl of your stand mixer. Mix gently at the lowest speeds for 3 minutes.
- Increase to medium speed for 2 minutes
- Turn back down to lowest speed and add the butter, cubed.
- When it has mixed in return to medium speed and beat for a further 3 minutes. At this stage, the dough will be stretchy and not break easily.
- Turn into a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.
- Cut into equal pieces (eg 50 gr). Roll into balls. When you have made all the balls, roll a second time before placing them in the cases.
- To shape your babas, flatten the rolls slightly and put your thumb through to make a whole. Ensure the shape is even. Pop into the mould. I put my moulds into a muffin tray to make it easier to move them around.
- Leave to rise at least 1 hour in a warm room. The rolls should be covered with plastic which should not touch the top of the rolls. For example place a mug at each corner of the tray and drape plastic or cling film over.
- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºc.
- When they have risen, bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly golden (this will depend on your oven). Do not be tempted to egg wash the buns as this stops the syrup soaking in.
- When they have cooled slightly prick them all over with a toothpick and soak in the syrup for at least an hour.
- Make the syrup: Cut your strawberries into small equal pieces, sprinkle over the sugar and mix well. If you are using blackberries, cook them in a little water for a few minutes.
- Leave overnight. Strain the syrup off the strawberries and set the berries aside.
- Make the syrup up to 300 ml with water. Bring to the boil and add the alcohol.
- Let it cool slightly and place in a dish large enough to take all the babas.
- To serve, fill the hole with either creme patissiere or whipped cream and pop the strawberries on top
Notes
Fou de Patisserie now in English
You can now get a digital version of Fou de Patisserie in English.
Hello Sue, It will depend on the size you decide to make. The best idea is to test after 15 minutes if not done 20. If I were to use all the mixture in a tin (with a hole in the centre), I’d estimate 25 minutes
Just found this recipe and wanted to say thank you. I would like to try making the large version, do you have an oven timing for that please. Thanks again, lovely recipes.
Sue
Thank you!
Absolutely delicious!! VibrantðŸ˜
Sorry, your comment got stuck in the spam folder! Lovely to meet you.
Thanks, I will have a look
Goodness, that would be very challenging seeing that after a fast!
They look delicious! Especially if you are just coming out of a fast 🙂
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OMG! Want NOW!