The Odd Fork continues its tribute to chestnuts! These sweet babes above are perfect for breakfast with coffee or hot chocolate and for a late afternoon snack also, with a shot of liqueur.

For the pastry:

- 1 and 3/4 cup all purpose flour

- a package of active dry yeast (about 7 g)

- 60 ml lukewarm milk

- 1/3 cup sugar

- 50 g melted butter

- a medium egg

- some vanilla and some cinnamon 

- an egg slightly beaten (optional)

For the chestnut filling:

- 15 to 20 boiled and peeled chestnuts

- a small piece of butter (size of a walnut)

- 1/3 cup evaporated milk

- 3 tbsp sugar

- some vanilla, some cinnamon and some brandy or citrus liqueur

- 1 tbsp thick fruit marmalade (any flavor available) 

- some blonde raisins

- 1/3 cup walnuts coarsely chopped

- a bar of praline chocolate (about 180 g), coarsely chopped

Start with the filling first. Heat the milk and dissolve sugar and butter. Add chestnuts and milk mixture into blender and mix to make a smooth chestnut purée, adjusting the amount of chestnuts or milk to have the desired consistency. Transfer into a bowl and add remaining filling ingredients, mixing well. The texture should be thick, like potato mash. Set it aside and prepare the pastry. In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in milk and add 1 tbsp of the sugar. Mix and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Mix all the remaining pastry ingredients except the beaten egg and add the yeast mixture, kneading until the dough does not stick on hands. Form the dough into a ball and set aside covered with a damp towel. Let it rise until doubled, about an hour.

So after that, divide the dough in three equal balls and roll each one to a thin, big circle. Cut smaller circles using a cookie cutter or glass and fill each one with a tsp of chestnut filling, sealing the edges very well (wet edges with water to make them stick together). Layer a baking pan with parchment paper. Arrange the chestnut pies, cover pan and allow them to rise in a warm place until double in volume. Once ready, brush them with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame (if desired). 

Bake in a preheated oven, air setting, at 350 C for 15 min or until lightly brown. Enjoy them while still warm, they are fantastic!