Have you ever heard of bear claw donuts? These bear claw-shaped pastries originate from Germany and are a treat for the taste buds. They are made from a leavened dough that is fried and sprinkled with icing sugar. This gives them a soft and sweet texture. Discover this German culinary speciality and learn more about its history and preparation.
Presentation of the bear claw doughnut
Bear claw doughnuts, also known as bear claws, are pastries in the shape of bear claws. This popular Anglo-Saxon treat is made of sweetened leavened dough, usually with a nut and spice filling.
The dough is usually made with flour, sugar, milk, butter and yeast. While the filling is often made of nuts mixed with sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. After rolling out the dough and spreading the filling, the dough is rolled into a crescent shape to give the appearance of bear claws. The doughnuts are then baked until they are golden brown and crispy.
Bear claw doughnuts are an ideal pastry for a gourmet breakfast, brunch or sweet dessert. Their fun shape and tasty filling also make them a great option for parties or festive events.
It can be enjoyed hot or cold, with a cup of coffee or tea to accompany its delicious nutty and cinnamon flavour.
Preparing the dessert
Bear claw doughnuts are not made with a snap of the fingers. It is important to follow certain steps for best results.
Gathering the ingredients
The ingredients needed to make bear claw donuts are basic baking ingredients. You need flour, sugar, salt, milk, yeast, butter, eggs and vanilla for the dough. For the filling, bakers usually use chopped nuts: almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter.
The exact quantities may vary depending on the recipe, but in general they use about 500g flour, 100g sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 250ml milk, 10g fresh yeast, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 100g butter for the dough.
For the filling, they use about 200g of chopped nuts, 100g of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 50g of melted butter.
Baking
Baking bear claw doughnuts is relatively quick and easy, making them an easy pastry to make at home to impress your guests or to treat yourself. To bake the doughnuts, first preheat the oven to 200°C. Once the dough has been prepared and rolled into a bear claw shape, the doughnuts are placed on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
The doughnuts are then brushed with beaten egg to give them a nice golden colour. They are baked in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crispy. After that they are removed from the oven and left to cool for a few minutes before being sprinkled with icing sugar or granulated sugar.
Health benefits of bear claw fritters
Nuts, which are often used in the filling of bear claw fritters, are an excellent source of protein, fibre and heart healthy fats. They also contain antioxidants, vitamins and essential minerals, such as vitamin E, magnesium and potassium.
In addition, spices such as cinnamon, which are also used in the filling of fritters, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
However, due to their high calorie, fat and sugar content, it is important to limit the consumption of bear claw doughnuts and consider them as an occasional treat rather than a staple in the daily diet.
Bear claw doughnuts, also known as “crying tigers” in Chinese, are a popular pastry in many Asian cultures. They are often prepared for parties and celebrations, but can also be enjoyed as a sweet treat. Their crunchy outside and chewy inside, as well as their richly flavoured and spiced dough and filling, make them a unique and delicious pastry to try.
