Recipes

Treacle Ring

  • Serves

    serves 12

MAURA MCEVOY

Treacle rings are traditionally a Maltese holiday treat, but they're often eaten year-round. See Making a Treacle Ring for a simple technique for shaping the pastry.

Ingredients

FOR THE PASTRY:

  • 2 12 cups flour
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 34 cup shortening
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten

FOR THE FILLING:

  • 1 cup black treacle or dark molasses
  • 34 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 tbsp. anisette liqueur
  • Zest of 1 orange, grated
  • Zest of 1 lemon, grated
  • 2 cups semolina
  • Flour
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten

Instructions

Step 1

For the pastry, sift flour, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl. Cut in shortening until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Mix in egg and sprinkle in 2-3 tbsp. ice water. Knead until dough just holds together. Divide dough into two balls and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Step 2

For the filling: Mix treacle, sugar, cocoa, liqueur, and orange and lemon zests together in a medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Gradually whisk in semolina, lower heat, and simmer until mixture is very thick, about 5-7 minutes. Pour into a bowl lined with plastic wrap; set aside to cool.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 375°. Roll out pastry on a lightly floured work surface into two long strips, about 4" × 12". Place strips side by side on a baking sheet. Form mixture into two 2" × 12" "sausages". Lay filling in the center of pastry strips, pinch pastry closed leaving 1" gaps. Then pinch ends together to form a ring. Brush with egg wash and bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown.

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