Hunklich Cherry Filled Pastry

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 4 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 23-24
• 7 cups sifted all-purpose flour, as needed
• 2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 tsp total)
• 2 cups lukewarm whole milk
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/8 lb butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup farina
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 quart canned cherries, pitted,drained,reserving the juice
• 1 pint creme fraiche or 1 pint sour cream
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• 2 -3 tablespoons sugar, as needed for sprinkling

Recipe

• pastry dough: dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of the warmed milk, along with 1-2 tsps of the sugar; set aside for 5-10 minutes or until frothy.
• combine remaining warmed milk in a large bowl and mix with remaining sugar,melted butter, eggs,salt, and finally the yeast mixture.
• add enough flour to make a soft dough that forms into a ball- you may not need all of it.
• knead dough on a board dusted with some of the remaining flour until it is smooth and elastic.
• place dough into an oiled bowl and flip over once to grease top, cover with a lightly greased sheet of plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
• punch down dough, recover, then let rise until doubled again (unless you are making two pastries, divide dough in half before rising again and save second half for another use).
• roll out dough into a large rectangle on floured board to a 1/4" thickness to fit an 11"x11" pan.
• place dough into pan and let rise 15 minutes.
• filling:.
• combine milk, water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to just a boil,stirring constantly.
• slowly stir in farina and cook for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool.
• when it has cooled to room temp, add the 2 whole eggs and vanilla.
• spread this mixture over the dough in the pan after it has risen for the third time (after the 15 minute rise).
• spread cherries evenly over this mixture, sprinkling some of the reserved juice on top as well.
• sprinkle with some sugar as well, to taste.
• mix together the egg yolks, sour cream, and about 2 tbsp sugar, or to taste.
• pour evenly over the cherries and pop the whole thing under a broiler for a few minutes.
• remove from broiler, set oven temp to 350 f and when the oven is at the correct temp, return the pan to the oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes.