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Franzbrötchen – German Cinnamon Rolls


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Description

An easier way to make franzbrötchen – a sweet cinnamon sugar-filled pastry roll native to Hamburg, Germany. Think of it as a the lovechild of a croissant and a cinnamon bun.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • Store-bought puff pastry, thawed
  • 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 395 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Brush the unrolled puff pastry gently with a teaspoon of water.
  3. Combine butter, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl until well-mixed; spread the filling evenly over the dough.
  4. Roll the dough up from the long side; press down slightly to make sure it doesn’t unroll. Cut the roll about every 4cm/2 inches (you’ll want to create a very slight ‘V’ shape when cutting each slice), and using the back of a wooden spoon, press down in the middle (it will sort of look like a butterfly…or a fly with big cartoony eyes).
  5. Place them, spaced out, on a baking sheet, and let rest for 10 minutes.
  6. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until golden. Enjoy warm!

Notes

  • Usually prepared using a yeast dough. We are speeding up the process by using store-bought puff pastry for our franzbrotchen. This is one of the few situations where the store-bought pastry is worth using (…unless you just enjoy making puff pastry, in which case, you do your puffy thang. I’ll meet you at step 3) – just make sure to pick a brand that is an all-butter puff pastry.
  • This recipe assumes that the unrolled puff pastry dough measures approximately 31.50 inches x 15.75 inches (80cm x 40cm).
  • It’s important to note that bake times may vary slightly depending on which store-bought puff pastry you use. The differences shouldn’t be anything crazy, just keep one eye on the oven as you approach the baking time. 
  • These are best eaten fresh, but can be stored for 1-2 days in an airtight container. Franzbrötchen (once fully cooled) can be placed in a resealable bag, and frozen for up to 2 months. 
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: German
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