I come across so many cute recipe ideas when I’m online doing my research, and there were a few that I found on a few different sites that I thought were absolutely adorable and wanted to share them with you.
For all of these recipes, I decided to use my delicious and versatile dough that I have made many things with including brioche bread. This dough has been used for doughnuts, bread rolls and even beignets! It just depends on what you are in the mood for. To use the dough to make an Easter bunny centerpiece that can be used for either a savory or sweet application, you can shape the bread into a bunny, then proof and bake. When preparing to build the bunny, make sure that the dough for both ears weighs the same so that they bake evenly…do the same for the hands and the feet. After shaping, allow it to proof and then bake. Once cool, simply cut a hole in the tummy and fill it with a delicious dip for veggies or even a chocolate ganache to dip into with some fresh fruit, like I did.
The other option is to make mini rolls into bunny shapes and using a pair of scissors, cut out the ears and egg wash before placing in the oven. Such a great idea to serve with your Easter meal!
Lastly, you can make the same dough and fill it with a chocolate almond cream made from almond paste, melted chocolate, ground chocolate and a little egg whites. Scoop them out into little balls and freeze them so that they are easy to handle. Once the dough has proofed, pre-portion it into 2 oz dough balls. Roll them and then make a hole in the center. Add the frozen chocolate almond filling and close the dough ball. Allow them to proof covered loosely under some plastic wrap. Egg wash them and coat them with the sliced almonds. Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown. When your remove them from the oven, dust them immediately with powdered sugar and enjoy.
Almond Cream Filling
8 oz almond paste
1/4 cup melted dark chocolate
1/2 cup finely ground dark chocolate
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon egg white, or just enough to bind the mixture
egg wash (egg plus water)
sliced almonds
Add the almond paste to the bowl of your stand mixer and add the granulated sugar. Use a paddle and beat the almond paste to a coarse meal. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the 1/4 cup of dark chocolate and add that to the almond paste and combine well. Add enough egg white to bind the mixture to a paste, but not too much or it will become runny. Lastly, add the finely ground dark chocolate pieces. Use a small scoop to portion out the mixture, you should get about 12 small scoops. Once all the mixture is scooped out, freeze it so that it is easy to handle.
Once the dough has proofed, weigh out equal amounts of dough and then fill them with the filling and roll. Proof them, egg wash, then add some sliced almonds and bake at 350°F until golden brown. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.
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