Monday, April 4, 2016

Chinois aux Pépites de Chocolat/Snail Cake/Schneckenkuchen

Chinois is a traditional pastry from Alsace region of France which have its border with Germany, this snail shaped cake have its origin from Germany where its known as Schneckenkuchen aka Snail cake because of its shape. But none know about the reason behind the name Chinois which means chinese in French, this is how this yeasted bread like cake is called in France. This brioche is one of my favourite since ever i tasted it long back in a friend's place. Though this delicious chinois do exists in stores, this rich yeasted cake is very easy to bake at home. We all know that brioche dough asks for a time consuming preparation, long kneading process, but trust me this brioche cake will definitely please your tastebuds. This Snail cake makes a family sized brioche which is rolled around a pastry cream filling, to which you can add dry fruits like raisins or else chocolate chips. If you tastes this spongy,succulent Chinois, am sure you will completely fallen in love with it.


If you have a stand mixer, trust me you can make this brioche dough with less efforts as this dough asks for a long kneading. While the dough rest in warm place to double the volume, you can prepare the pastry cream aka créme pâtissiére easily as its takes very less time to get ready, you can even cool it completely and place in fridge for making this snail cake. If you want to make a super delicious evening snacks or a special brunch, just think about this Chinois aux pépites de chocolat, yes this yeasted cake will definitely fill your tummy and also you can enjoy this brioche without any spread as it have already the pastry cream and chocolate chips in it. This post goes to this month's blogging marathon as am running a whole month of marathon with International cuisine especially French cuisine as theme.

Chinois aux pépites de chocolat, Snail cake

For brioche:
4cups White bread flour/All purpose flour
1/4cup Sugar
140grms Butter (melted)
1cup Milk
2 Eggs (beaten)
2tsp Instant yeast
Chocolate chips (as per need)

Créme Pâtissière/Pastry cream:
1+1/3cup Milk
2 Egg yolks
1tsp Vanilla extract
1tbsp Cornflour
1/4cup Sugar

For kneading:
Take the flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a bowl, meanwhile whisk the milk, melted butter and beaten sugar in an another bowl.

Slowly add the wet ingredients to the flour and knead to form a soft stickly dough. If you are using stand mixer,knead well until the dough turns smooth and shiny, it will take 15-20minutes.

Place the dough in a greased bowl and keep in a warm place covered tightly with a plastic wrap for 2hours.

Chinois aux pépites de chocolat et à la créme pâtissière, Snail cake

Making pastry cream:
Heat the milk in simmer, meanwhile whisk the egg yolks with sugar and vanila extract.

Add the hot milk slowly and whisk everything, transfer this mixture in a saucepan and whisk until they turns thick in simmer.

Pour it in a bowl and cover it with a clingfilm right on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent the skin forming and cool it completely.

Arrange it in fridge until required.

Assembling the Snail Cake:

Grease a round cake mould with a removable base, keep aside.

Punch the dough and knead again for a while, roll it as a rectangle over a floured surface.


Spread the pastry cream over the dough, sprinkle the chocolate chips and roll tightly starting from the longer side of the dough.

Slice the roll into 8equal pieces and arrange the dough pieces carefully to the already prepared mould and cover it tightly with a clingfilm and leave it to rise for an hour in a warm place.

Preheat the oven to 350F, now remove the clingflim and bake the chinois in the middle rack for 35-40minutes until they turns golden brown.

Cool it completely and remove it from the mould.


Pull it and enjoy.




Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63
An InLinkz Link-up

28 comments:

Suma Gandlur said... Reply To This Comment

Wow, Priya! That snail cake looks like a treat and is tempting.

MySpicyKitchen said... Reply To This Comment

Snail cake is beautifully baked.

cookingwithsapana said... Reply To This Comment

It's hard to pronounce he name but I like this wonderful cake.Love the texture and the color of it.

Mayuri Patel said... Reply To This Comment

love the snail rolls. With chocolate chips it must be very delicious.

Amara’s cooking said... Reply To This Comment

Such a lovely Snail cake, absolutely delicious. Love the step by step pics and instructions Priya, bookmarked the recipe:)

Pavani said... Reply To This Comment

OMG, what a rich and decadent brioche rolls Priya. Pastry cream in the middle sounds so yummy!! Will have to make these some time.

vaishali sabnani said... Reply To This Comment

The cake looks amazing Priya , it looks very attractive too . Well can we achieve anything without hard work ? Super one .

Padmajha said... Reply To This Comment

The snail cake looks extremely tempting Priya.Super choice...

Gayathri Kumar said... Reply To This Comment

Wow, This bread looks absolutely inviting. I am so bad in pronouncing French, so will stick to known names..

Sandhya Ramakrishnan said... Reply To This Comment

That is one amazing bread. I love enriched dough and this is just so delicious. It has come out perfect!

Kushigalu said... Reply To This Comment

Looks gorgeous and delicious!

Srivalli said... Reply To This Comment

Gosh priya you make it sound like a breeze..looks so sinful!

Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen said... Reply To This Comment

Ahhh priya sinful pa!!! That pastry cream is droolicious!!

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

hummm priya what a color very inviting perfectly baked.... and the shape too good..

The Pumpkin Farm said... Reply To This Comment

nice name...snail cake...and u make it sound simple, but such recipes do stir me up a bit, u r on a roll again

Kalyani said... Reply To This Comment

Kids would love this shaped cake / bread .. So
Flavourful

Anonymous said... Reply To This Comment

You have baked them beautifully. Can see the snails. yummy pastry

rajani said... Reply To This Comment

Beautiful treat indeed!

Nalini's Kitchen said... Reply To This Comment

Beautifully baked snail rolls,feel like grabbing it from the screen..

Smruti Ashar said... Reply To This Comment

Amazing brioche rolls. I have been meaning to make them for a while! Looks delicious :)

A Kamalika Krishmy said... Reply To This Comment

Wish I could download this snail cake in a jet speed....

Harini R said... Reply To This Comment

Such a tempting cake there, Priya. Looks very beautiful.

Chef Mireille said... Reply To This Comment

what a gorgeous bread - truly a work of art!!!

Red said... Reply To This Comment

This sure looks like unfrosted cinnamon rolls to me. But the making of it sounds very different.

Saraswathi Ganeshan said... Reply To This Comment

Oooh, these look divine! Love to have a bite! yummy

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

no words.... They look stunning.

veena said... Reply To This Comment

Beautifully baked. Priya this looks amazing

Nisha said... Reply To This Comment

Thats lovely Priya! It is beautifully baked. :)