This recipe comes straight from the heart. I can never make this bread without the memory of seeing Dad putting it on the table Christmas morning all decorated with icing sugar, a red ribbon and reindeers on top.
Almond Filling
Ingredients
250 grams ground almonds
1 cup sugar
1 ½ eggs, beaten
grated peel of 1 lemon
a pinch of salt
Direction
Mix all the above ingredients together. Cover the paste and let stand for 2 or 3 days in the fridge. Mix with a fork every day. (Nibble as desired.)
Bread
Ingredients
2 tsp sugar
½ cup warm water
2 packages yeast
6-7 cups flour
½ tsp salt
¾ cup sugar
1 cup melted butter
¾ cup warm milk (not hot)
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup raisins
¾ cup mixed peel (can be purchased from health food store)
Directions
1. Dissolve sugar in warm water, sprinkle yeast on top, and let stand 10 minutes (yeast should double in size).
2. Sift together flour, sugar and salt, then make a well in the center and add yeast mixture, melted butter, warm milk and 4 beaten eggs. Knead all this until very smooth (8-10 minutes).
3. Add raisins and mixed peel and continue kneading until thoroughly mixed (your arms should tired by now).
4. Cover the bowl with a tea towel, and let rise for approximately 2 hours in a warm place. (Preheat oven to 200˚F, turn oven off, open the door to reduce heat a bit and then place dough in for the 2 hours). The dough should double in size.
5. Punch dough down and knead for a few minutes. Flatten out dough into an oval shape and put the almond paste (formed into a roll) in the centre. Then fold over the dough so almond paste is hidden inside. (Note: you can make one large loaf or two smaller ones). Now sprinkle with flour, cover with tea towel and let stand again in a warm place for 1 ½ hours.
6. Preheat oven to 400˚F. Bake for 12 minutes. Reduce heat to 350˚F and bake another 25 to 30 minutes.
7. Place on a rack to cool. Once cooled, sprinkle lightly with icing sugar.
“Smakelijk eten”
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