Dark Chocolate Mandel Bread

When I saw that Fage was having a contest about “good living” and the grand prize was a trip to Greece, I knew I had to enter! I LOVE Fage and use it in a lot of my recipes. Like this one. And that one here. It’s healthy, chock full of protein, and makes my creations taste awesome! Plus, I have always wanted to go to Greece- haven’t you? Anyone out there been? Lucky!

When I think about “good living” I conjure up images of the simple things. Delicious, high quality food, happy memories, and spending time with friends and family. Isn’t that what it’s all about? (Or is that they hokey pokey? I always get those two confused.)

Greek and Jewish cultures really aren’t that different it turns out. Strong women and family values? Check. Pretty much everything revolving around food? Got that. A proud history that goes back thousands of years? Yup.

For me, “good living” is coming home to familiar smells and tasty home cooked meals. But of course, I like to do things around here with a twist. My Bubbe always had some of her mandel bread around when the kindelah visited, though to be honest it was never as popular as her apple cake. Sort of like a Jewish biscotti, they are a little hard, and filled with orange marmalade so never a kid’s favorite treat. Well I modernized mine up a bit with Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream and then I dipped them in dark chocolate. Yum! The yogurt softened the cookies up, and the chocolate is just perfect with the orange flavors. If eating one of these with your morning coffee isn’t “good living” then I don’t know what is. Here is all you need for some mandel bread of your own.

Close up of the lovely Fage. I think 2% works best for all your culinary needs!

First up, cream together butter and sugar. Then add Fage Greek yogurt and egg.

Next up, add your dry ingredients.

Mix all that up and form your dough into four balls. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky. Then chill your balls for 1-2 hours.

After your balls are chilled, flatten one ball at a time with your hands into a circle about 1/4 inch thick. Top with marmelade, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts and roll up like a jelly roll.

Repeat with other balls and place seem side down on a greased cookie sheet (I use parchment paper) and bake until golden.

After baking, slice 1/2 inch pieces and toast them in the oven on each side until crispy.

Now for the chocolate! I think everything is better with chocolate don’t you? Of course you do! Heat up your chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave until melted. Add in orange zest and dip away.

These go great with coffee, and that means they can even be eaten for breakfast!

Dark Chocolate Mandel Bread

Amy

5 from 2 votes

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Servings 24

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 stick shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups flour use a little more if dough is sticky when you roll it out
• Marmalade
• Cinnamon
• Walnuts finely chopped
• 1 bag dark chocolate chips
• Zest of 1 orange

Instructions

 

• Cream together butter and sugar.
• Add Fage Greek yogurt and egg.
• Add in baking powder, baking soda and flour.
• Roll your dough into 4 balls and chill 1-2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Flatten each ball with hands until you make a circle about 1/4" thick.
• Spread with marmalade, then sprinkle with walnuts and cinnamon.
• Roll jelly roll style and place seam down and greased cookie sheet.
• Repeat with other balls.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until brown.
• Cool mandel bread slightly and slice 1/2 inch think pieces.
• Continue to bake at 375 on each side until crispy.
• Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave. Add in orange zest.
• Dip ends of mandel bread into chocolate. Let dry on parchment paper.

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P.S. Happy Halloween! What are y’all going to be?

As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program, I have been entered for the chance to win a trip to Greece courtesy of FAGE. You too can enter to win one of three trips to Greece by entering the FAGE Plain Extraordinary Greek Getaway here: http://www.fageusa.com/community/fage-greek-getaway.