Sausage roll pastry - how do I achieve a smooth shiny effect?

I came across this on the net and would love to be able to make them for a party next week.

sausage rolls

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296105_10150312607032555_324958872554_8041834_494890086_n.jpg I've seen pastry like this on sausage rolls in France but don't know how to get the effect. Is it just puff pastry they use with egg yolk? How is this effect achieved?

Best Answer

No, this is not puff pastry at all. It is a rich yeast dough, similar to the dough for an unsweetened brioche. The dough has a low hydration (around 50% or maybe 55%), so it can be rolled out into a sheet, similar to a pizza base, without being sticky. In Europe, these are made with AP flour, not bread flour, they are supposed to be soft and not chewy. If you are looking for a recipe, search for brioche recipes with a low amount of sugar which are intended for kneading by hand instead of a mixer.

From the rolled dough, you have to cut a stripe, maybe 1 cm wide. You also need molds for baking. They look like a long cone, maybe 8-10 cm in height and 2-3 cm in base diameter. (You can roll your own from tin halfcircles, if you have the tools to cut a tin sheet into halfcircles). You wind the strip of dough around the cone and bake it with the cone still inside. Afterwards, you have to remove the cone with care, and so you have the hole where you can put the sausage.

I haven't made or seen the variation with eyes. Obviously, you have to add the pips before baking. I am not sure how the white/dark blob is achieved. It looks like something was piped on before baking, maybe normal and colored eggwhite "snow".

The shiny effect of the crust of this picture seems to be due to baking with steam in a commercial oven. You can't replicate it at home, if you want them to be shiny, you may consider using a glaze or wash.

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Why are my sausage rolls greasy?

If your sausage rolls are soggy it may be down the sausages you've chosen. Higher-fat sausages produce more oil and liquid which can make the bottom of your sausage roll pastry soggy and wet. Choosing a lower-fat sausage will help to avoid this. Also opt for a good quality sausage too.

Do you put egg wash on puff pastry?

You can brush an egg-wash glaze (1 egg plus 1 tsp. water) over the Puff Pastry to create a rich, golden sheen when baked. Use an egg wash to help seal filled pastries and connect Puff Pastry pieces: mix 1 egg plus 1 tsp. water, brush between layers, then pinch or press together.

How do you roll the perfect sausage roll?

Brushing your pastry with egg wash, a whole beaten egg, or a beaten egg yolk will help put color and shine on your crust. While the protein promotes browning, the fat in the egg yolk gives a nice, glossy shine to the baked puff pastry goods.

Step by step tutorial on how to make Sausage roll

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Chris F, Karolina Grabowska, Kelly L, Shuxuan Cao