Cinnamon Twists with Lemon-Honey Dipping Sauce

Step over, Dane... I have a new love. Puff pastry. I mean, really... where has this stuff been all my life? I can't believe this is the first recipe I've ever made with puff pastry. I've seen lots of recipes that include it over the years, but I'd never actually tried working with it until today. Hahahaha... now I'm going to have to keep myself from making every recipe including puff pastry known to man.

These little twists are fantastic. They were the perfect addition to our usual Sunday morning breakfast of maple bacon and coffee. Lightly crunchy on the outside, flaky and airy on the inside, with a hint of cinnamon-sweetness... they were delicious dipped in the accompanying dipping sauce or simply dunked in coffee. I will warn you though, the dipping sauce is very lemony. I think next time I'll use less lemon juice, or I might even leave it out altogether and use a little brewed coffee to replace the needed liquid. But with or without the sauce, you need to try these twists. Make them today. They're too easy and too delicious to wait.

Cinnamon Twists with Lemon-Honey Dipping Sauce
adapted from Giada De Laurentis
makes 8 twists

Ingredients
For Twists
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 (9 by 10") sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed, and cut into 16 (1 by 4") pieces
1 egg, beaten

For Dipping Sauce
1/4 cup honey
juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions
For the Twists
1. Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a shallow bowl combine the cinnamon, sesame seeds, and brown sugar.
3. Twist two pieces of dough together to form a rope shape, and pinch the ends to seal. Brush the dough with the beaten egg and gently roll in the cinnamon mixture to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet, and repeat with each dough twist.
4. Bake for 12014 minutes, until puffed and golden. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with dipping sauce.

For the Sauce
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lemon juice, powdered sugar, and cinnamon until smooth. Transfer to a serving dish and serve!