Friday, September 16, 2011

Grammie's Butter Horns

 

When my mother-in-law needed skilled nursing care a few years ago,  I found a stack of old cookbooks in her den, many of which were from the local church that my husband's family attended.  My husband's grandmother, "Grammie" as she was known to all of the grandchildren, was very active in her church and a baker extraordinaire!  I can't tell you the number of pies, cakes, and especially butter horns that she made for church fundraisers.  She was especially famous for her light and delicious butter horns.  When we would have dinner at her home, there was always a care package of butter horns that was sent home with us. They were my husband's favorite of everything she baked.

Years ago, while she was still alive, I tried making Grammie's butter horns but it was a miserable failure.  I hadn't tried again until recently when I came across the old church cookbooks in a closet again. The book is dated 1985.


The recipe called for 6 cups of flour but it must have been humid the day I made them because I needed to add almost 9 cups of flour to get a stiff dough as the recipe states.  You will notice that the recipe calls from scalded milk  Some people believe that it isn't necessary to scald milk today because now all milk is pasteurized. This article mentions that baking scientist Shirley Corriher thinks that breads rise better when the milk is scalded.  Here is a YouTube video on how to scald milk:


Perhaps that's the part that I didn't get right the first time I made them!



After two risings the dough is divided, patted into circles and the circles cut into wedges which are filled with a brown sugar streusel and rolled into crescent shapes.  Next time I make them, I think I'll add some chopped pecans to the streusel.


I was so happy when I bit into the first one!  I finally had delicious success and I felt Grammie would have been proud of me.   I little pat of butter on a warm butter horn is pure heaven!

Butter Horns

Recipe from my husband's Grandmother
Printable Recipe

3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon salt
3 packages yeast
1 cup warm water
4 eggs, beaten
6 cups flour (more as needed)

Scald milk, stir in butter, sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in the cup of warm water. Stir into the milk mixture, add eggs and the flour, 2 - 3 cups at a time, until the dough is stiff. Knead well. Put in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled. Punch down the dough and allow to rise a second time.

Cut the dough into two pieces and then each piece into 3rds. Pat each 3rd into a round pie-like shape and spread with a good amount of streusel. Cut into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a crescent, starting at the wide end and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or silicone liner. Cover lightly and allow to double in size.

Bake for about 5 minutes in a preheated, 350F oven.

Spread with powdered sugar frosting after they have cooled but are still slightly warm.

Streusel:

2 cups brown sugar
2 cups flour
1-1/2 sticks of butter or margarine
Chopped Pecans (optional)

51 comments:

  1. These look amazing, love the pictures!! have a nice weekend! gloria

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  2. I love this post:)

    It is heartwarming..
    Grammies Horns will be tried here.Thanks for the tip re the flour:)
    they are so pretty..would plumped raisins be good in the also?

    They look like little daity tea treats.
    Have a great weekend.

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  3. Oh my, these have to just be melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and I know I wouldn't be able to stop at one!! I want to try these. Delish! Nothing like a warm and cozy recipe from grammie! xo,

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  4. The look is as good as the taste! That first bite must have been delicious! I have to make some...
    thanks for reminding me of them! Luv

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  5. What a sweet post. I am certain that your hubby is thrilled with your success. They look delicious...a little too delicious.

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  6. What a sweet tribute to your husband's grammie...isn't it nice to be able to replicate a taste from long ago. If they taste anything like they look, they will be delicious!

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  7. Such a lovely post, Susan. I'm glad you were able to master the recipe and bring back those wonderful memories of your husband's Grammie.

    I learned a long time ago, if Shirley O. Corriher suggests a particular method works better than another, you can count on it!

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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  8. So nice you got them right and recreated a family recipe! They look delicious, so light, nice treat.

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  9. Grammie's Butter Horns look so homey and delicious- I love to make recipes that have a history. :)

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  10. How wonderful! I so wish I had these for coffee in the morning...or right now as a nightcap. Thanks for sharing! I do love finding these older recipes that have such fond memories attached.

    xo
    Pat

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  11. How wonderful! I so wish I had these for coffee in the morning...or right now as a nightcap. Thanks for sharing! I do love finding these older recipes that have such fond memories attached.

    xo
    Pat

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  12. That's so sweet that you were able to a treat that brings back happy memories of her.

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  13. Those look so delicious! What a great way to recreate this memory for your husband!

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  14. Isn't it nice when you recapture an old flavor -- a remembered flavor -- sometimes I've been successful and sometimes I've not. Congratulations on your success!

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  15. They look light and airy. It has been quite a few years since I have had a butterhorn. I better change that!

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  16. Your posts always make me want to get in the kitchen and start stirring. Once the temps start going down I hope to start baking again. Thanks for sharing! Bonnie

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  17. Susan, I can envision a little care package of those wonderful butter horns! Im sure you and your hubby are enjoying them :-)

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  18. I never heard of these before. They they look amazing! I bet my family would love them! Your photos are beautiful as always! :)

    Bookmarked!

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  19. Never heard of those butter buns....but I really love its cake-like softness and lightness.

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  20. Those wonderful old church cookbooks are gems. I feel for the younger generation if they don't have any from their grandparents. The best recipes! These butter horns looks amazing, Susan. I'm so glad you had success with them this time. We can benefit from your experiments.

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  21. Whenever I see things attributed to a gram my eyes light up big time (and your recipes never steer me wrong). I always know they will be spectacular. This is a keeper recipe thats going into the keeper file. Just lovely.

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  22. They look delicious..reminds me of "foley" making her scratch cinnamon rolls. So good!

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  23. Isn't it wonderful how foods evoke such sweet memories? Grammie would be so pleased!!

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  24. What a darling story, I can imagine the lady in question and her baked goodies,,was she German? Anyway, these look wonderful like little brioches; I am now engulfed in a croissant project with some other bloggers, but as soon as that is done, I will tackle this dough. Will try the milk tip too. And yes, I would add some toasted pecans to the filling as well. Have you tried these with chocolate filling?

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  25. Your butterhorns look divine!

    Recipes submitted for church fundraiser cookbooks are often the tried and true favorite passed down in many families and therefore are wonderfully delicious.

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  26. You are all so kind, thank you! This was a true walk down memory lane for me.

    Monique, I think raisin would taste wonderful in these. Since it was only be second effort in 20+ years I've never tried them but I can taste them there already.

    Joumana, I think chocolate is a wonderful idea too! Chocolate, nuts and cinnamon? I want to make another batch now. I believe Grammie was of English descent.

    Again, thank you to all for the kind comments!

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  27. I just love old church cookbooks, especially ones where I remember the names! The only things they are missing are pictures. Wouldn't it have been fun to have a digital photo for each person and for each recipe? they have some great old recipes that are tried and true. These look so delish. I love the filling in them. My aunt always had a care package for us of her special cookies to take back to college.

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  28. What a lovely post Susan,Grammie would be so pleased.....have a good day, a warm hug...

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  29. I love the old family recipes. These look delicious.

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  30. They must be delicious.... I love these "family" recipes...have a great new week, hugs, Flavia

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  31. Your butterhorns look delicious. I wish I could have one now. This recipe is one to treasure. My grandmother was a great cook, I wish I had her recipes now to use.

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  32. I'm not a baker~ these look melt in your mouth delicious!

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  33. You definitely would have made Grammie proud with these lovely butter horns. Makes me wish I was a baker.
    Sam

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  34. Your butter horns are beautiful, Susan, and I know Grammie would be proud. My grandmother's recipes are almost impossible to duplicate because she never wrote anything down and used the pinch and handful method of measuring. Goodness, I miss her cooking.

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  35. Susan, they look heavenly! So nice and light! Perfect with a cup of coffee .
    Thank you for sharing the recipe.
    I bet J loved you making his Grammie's recipe.

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  36. Love those babies! They look amazing Susan. The pictures are awesome.

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  37. oh my these looks pretty tempting!! thank you for sharing this with us.

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  38. This must have been a wonderful reunion your husband had with grammie's butter horns. Good for you for your persistence, and now we can enjoy these wonderful pastries!

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  39. I would love to bite into one right now!!! They look wonderful:) Have a great week:)

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  40. Oh wow, did this bring back memories for me too. These were my mothers favorite but I never found the recipe she used. I will try yours and I bet they will come oh so close. What a treasure to have found that old cookbook. Sometimes we find some oldies that are just as good now as they were then. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I am definitely going to give these a try and make some memories of my own.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  41. I haven't thought of butterhorns in years. They were a staple at many of our Wednesday evening church dinners and both my grandmother and mother made them. I am thrilled to be reminded and have a recipe. I'll be adding some pecans or walnuts too.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  42. looks perfect and shows that we should never give up with cooking/baking hugs

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  43. Glad you got your grandma's recipe right. When they say scald it, I do it. They look so yummy and I love old church cookbooks. Joni

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  44. Susan, these butter horns look so delicate, love the texture of these little treats. So nice of you making this from your husband grandmother recipe...
    Hope you are having a wonderful week :-)

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  45. YUM! I LOVE your recipe! Would you come over to CAST PARTY WEDNESDAY tomorrow and share your recipe with us?
    Thanks,
    I hope to see you there!
    http://ladybehindthecurtain.com

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  46. Oh my. These look absolutely wonderful!!!

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  47. A wonderful treat to have with a nice cup of coffee. I will put this site on my favorites, so well done!. Richard from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa

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  48. Just wanted to thank you again for all of your wonderful comments. The Butter Horns are in the freezer and being brought out slowly to savor :)

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  49. Thank you for your visit to Amish Stores, i really like what you have done with your blog and its recipes. I will be back often. Richard

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  50. Your success look so pretty and delicious! I can see why Grammie made so many and why they are your husbands favorite!

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