Question: We received a gift from an Italian lady. It included some pizzelles and some small, short sweet rolls.
They were only about three inches long and the dough had been twisted. They had like an anise flavor and included raisins.
We think they are named something like genoa or gennelle.
Do you know the proper name for this pastry?
Answer: Hi Don,
Following your description, I believe it may be a brioche recipe with raisins, like this photo above. There is no pastry called Genoa or gennelle (maybe it could be a local name?).
To prepare a brioche recipe you'll need:
• 2.4 all-purpose flour
• 0.7 of brewer's yeast
• 6 tablespoons of milk
• 5.3 oz of butter
• 2 eggs
• 5.3 oz of sugar
•a pinch of salt
• 3.5oz of raisins
How to prepare it:
Put the all-purpose flour, half of the sugar, 1/3 of the butter, the pinch of salt, the eggs and the milk on your pastry board and work it until you get a soft dough that does not attach to your hands.
Work it for a while and then let it rest for about 2 hours covered with a fabric napkin.
After this time, put the dough on the dusted pastry board
, roll it out with a matterello and spread part of the butter remained and the raisins (that you had put into water to soften before). Work the pasta for another 10 minutes.
Then divide the dough in three pieces. From each piece you will make three rolls that are going to be weaved.
Put the remaining butter and sugar into a pan and let it melt with low gas. Pour it into a rectangular oven pan and lay down the weaved dough.
Cover it and let it rise for an hour and when your brioche recipe doubles its volume. Put it into pre warmed oven for 90 minutes.
Buon appetito!
