It is a snowy January here in Oklahoma! Records were broken for snowfall totals in one day in Oklahoma City. Norman had over 7 inches. Now some of y’all might be thinking, “oh, that’s not too bad.” But Okies do not have the infrastructure for heavy winter weather. The library was closed for 3 days straight! For context, we are usually open 7 days a week. So when I was called back into work and braved the icy roads, I decided to stay up late the night before and bake for my coworkers!
The recipe of choice was… Chokoladeboller (Chocolate Rolls) by skandi baking.
When I’m having a rough week, I usually stop by Starbucks for a chocolate croissant and a fancy coffee. Lately, I’ve traded that habit for local coffee shops, but I couldn’t risk them being closed on such a frigid morning. So instead, I made a yeasted chocolate roll to tide me over until I can get my hands on a proper pain au chocolat.
The recipe was easy enough and took about three hours, proofing time included. I used bread flour and semi-sweet chocolate chips. I didn’t have any cardamom in my cupboard, but I’ll definitely add it next time. I also didn’t have a pastry brush for the egg wash, so I made do with a spatula. They didn’t turn out quite as golden as the photos in the original recipe, but they were still absolutely delicious.
When I arrived at work, I saw my coworker and her husband trying to dig out the staff entrance, which was buried under snow and ice. Since that door is the only one our key opens, it had to be cleared before we could get inside. I jumped in to help while the rolls waited in my car, practically calling my name. Once we finally got inside, I secured the precious cargo and started on opening duties. Eventually, my coworker and I sat down together and enjoyed a warm roll after a very icy start to the day.
The roads were slick, the air was bitter, and the library doors were frozen shut, but inside we found something simple and good. Warm bread, good company, and the quiet hum of a library waking back up after a storm. Sometimes that’s all it takes to turn a winter mess into a memory worth keeping.
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