Marzipan Birthday Kringle

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 ounces active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup warm milk (about 110 f)
• 1 cup whipping cream (about 75 degrees)
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom (preferably fresh)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into individual tablespoon portions
• 8 ounces almond paste (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup chopped blanched almond
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg , beaten
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Recipe

• 1 combine yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, and warm milk in a small bowl. let rest until the yeast dissolves and begins to foam (about 10 min). gently stir in the cream.
• 2 combine the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and cardamom in a large bowl. cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. fold in the yeast mixture just enough to moisten the dough. cover and refrigerate 12 - 24 hours before rolling out the dough.
• 3 prepare the filling after the dough has been refrigerated by blending together all the filling ingredients.
• 4 lightly flour a pastry board or other smooth surface, and place the dough on the floured surface. pound it with a rolling pin until the dough is flattened to a thickness of about 2 inches. roll the dough to make a 24 inch square.
• 5 spread the filling to within 1 inch of the edges and roll up the dough as tightly as possible.
• 6 sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar on the work surface, and with your fingers, roll the dough firmly into the sugar to coat it, while also strething it to form a log measuring about 36 - 40 inches.
• 7 cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. place the roll on the paper in the shape of a large pretzel. brush the surface with the beaten egg , and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• 8 cover and let rise 45 minutes, or until puffy, but not doubled.
• 9 bake in a 375 f oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown.