Cherry rings from lean dough

Description

Perfectly pairs with tea and coffee. The stated amount of dough yields 16 ring-shaped buns—approximately 7-8 servings of delicious sweet pastry. These buns are very attractive, so they can confidently be served at a festive table. You can use either frozen or fresh cherries, or even replace them with pieces of ripe plums. I strongly recommend dusting the cooled baked rings with powdered sugar—it will make their appearance even more festive. The pastry is ready. Serve at the table.

Instructions

1. 1

   Step 1

   Prepare the starter: dilute the starter with room-temperature water and mix well. Add the sifted flour and mix. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and let it sit for 8 hours at room temperature.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Transfer the sponge to a bowl, add room temperature water and mix. Add any vegetable oil, salt, and sugar. Sift in the wheat flour and knead the dough for 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Round the dough and transfer it to a bowl greased with vegetable oil. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 3-4 hours. Place the dough onto a floured work surface.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Shape the dough into a ball and cover with a lid. Let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. The dough is ready for baking.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Prepare the filling: heat the frozen cherries in a saucepan over low heat for 5–7 minutes. Without removing the cherries from the heat, add sugar and potato starch.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Constantly stirring, cook the filling for a few more minutes until thickened. Divide the dough into 16 pieces and shape each piece into a ball. Cover the dough balls with plastic wrap while you shape the individual buns.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Roll the dough ball into a thin rectangle, place the filling along the edge of the shorter side, and roll the dough into a log. When you reach the halfway point of the rectangle, cut the remaining part of the rectangle into thin strips, leaving them attached at the edge.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Roll the log up to the edge of the dough, then coil it into a ring and secure the ends. Place the buns on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature for 1 hour.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Brush the buns with strong tea, sprinkle with cinnamon, and place in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 20 minutes. Let the buns cool on the baking sheet and dust with powdered sugar.