Christmas Kringle Recipes

KRINGLE

Steps:

• For the Topping:
• For the Dough: In a large measuring cup or medium bowl, sprinkle the yeast in the water to soften. Heat the cream to 100 degrees F and add it to the yeast along with the egg yolks and egg white. Whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, salt, cardamom, and flour. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it is the size of tiny peas. This process also can be done easily in a food processor. Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Do not mix too much because you do not want to soften the cold butter. You should see small flour-coated pieces of butter throughout the dough.
• Overnight rise: Put the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat the entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and a tightly woven towel and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
• Shape: Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled work surface and divide in half. Roll each half into a 24-inch square. Fold the dough in half from top to bottom, then fold the dough in half from side to side to make a 12-inch square. Cover with a towel and let rest 10 minutes.
• Working with 1 square of dough at a time, roll the dough into a 12 by 24-inch rectangle. Spread half of filling evenly over two-thirds of the dough, filling an area of 8 by 24 inches. Fold the portion of dough that has no filling onto the center third of filled dough, then fold the other third of dough to the center, forming a 4 by 24-inch rectangle.
• Place the dough seam side down on a parchment-lined or well-greased baking sheet. Bring the ends of the dough almost together (about 4 inches apart) to form a horseshoe. Repeat with the second piece of dough. If you cannot get both Kringles on a baking sheet, cover the second one and put it in the refrigerator until the first Kringle finishes baking; then bake.
• Second Rise: Cover the with a tightly woven towel and let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat Oven: About 10 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Final Preparation: For the topping, beat the egg white with a whisk or fork until frothy and brush over the loaves. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and then granulated sugar.
• Bake and Cool: Bake for 25 minutes until the internal temperature of the bread reached 190 degrees. Immediately remove the bread from the baking sheet and place on a rack to cool.
• In a medium bowl, stir the sugar, apples, pecans, butter, and cinnamon together until well mixed. Use to fill 2 loaves.

KRINGLE

Steps:

• Divide butter in half and spread each half on waxed paper to an 8x8 inch square.
• Chill.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• Add lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, lemon extract and egg, mixing well.
• Add flour and mix until smooth.
• Roll dough on well floured board to an 12x8 inch rectangle.
• Place one piece of chilled butter on two thirds of dough.
• Fold uncovered third of dough over the middle third, then fold the remaining third over top.
• Again fold one end over middle third, and fold remaining third over top, making a square of nine layers.
• Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Roll dough again to an 8x12 inch rectangle.
• Add chilled butter and fold the same way.
• This makes 18 layers.
• Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Cut dough into 2 equal pieces.
• Lightly roll one piece at a time, until piece is about 20x6 inches.
• Spread center third of dough with butterscotch filling, then add fruit, nuts, raisins and so on-- or top with jam.
• Fold one of the long edges to the middle, moisten other edge and fold over top to cover filling.
• Seal well.
• Put kringle on a greased baking sheet and form into an oval shape, pressing ends of kringle together to form a continuous circle.
• Flatten dough with hands.
• Cover kringle for 1 hour at 70 degrees.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool, then ice with a mixture of powdered sugar and water.

FLAKY DANISH KRINGLE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream 6 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons flour. Spread into an 8x4-in. rectangle on a piece on waxed paper. Cover with waxed paper; refrigerate. , In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the cream, sugar, salt and egg; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Do not let rise. Roll into an 8-in. square. Remove top sheet of waxed paper from butter mixture; invert onto center of dough. Peel off waxed paper. Fold plain dough over butter layer. Fold widthwise into thirds. Roll out into a 12x6-in. rectangle. Fold into thirds. Repeat rolling and folding twice. Wrap in waxed paper; refrigerate for 30 minutes. , On a lightly floured surface, roll into a 24x5-in. rectangle. In a small bowl, beat almond paste and remaining butter; beat until smooth. Spread lengthwise down the center of dough. Fold dough over filling to cover; pinch to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet. Shape into a pretzel. Flatten lightly with a rolling pin. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°., Brush egg white over dough. Sprinkle with cookie crumbs and almonds. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Carefully remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

SWEDISH KRINGLE

Steps:

• To make Pastry A, drop flour, salt and butter into the food processor.
• Pulse several times, until crumbly.
• Pour in 2-3 tablespoons water; pulse until clumpy.
• Flatten: Turn out pastry clumps onto a sheet of parchment paper.
• Divide in half and shape into 2 logs.
• Roll or pat each log into a thin rectangle, each about 14 inches long and 4 ½ inches wide.
• Slide parchment onto a baking sheet.
• To make Pastry B, swirl almond paste in the food processor 1 minute.
• Set aside.
• Boil: In medium saucepan, heat water and butter to an energetic boil.
• Pull pan off heat.
• Immediately drop in flour.
• Use an electric mixer to beat smooth.
• Beat in almond paste, then eggs - one at a time - then extract.
• Bake: Spread half of Pastry B over one rectangle of Pastry A, completely covering A.
• Repeat with second rectangle.
• Bake at 350 degrees until puffed and golden, about 45 minutes.
• Cool completely.
• To make icing, beat confectioners' sugar, butter and both extracts together, using an electric mixer.
• Add enough of the milk or cream to achieve a spreadable icing.
• Spread half the icing over each cooled kringle.
• Sprinkle on almonds.
• Slice crosswise on the diagonal into 1-inch thick strips.
• Enjoy.

MARZIPAN CHRISTMAS KRINGLE (JULESKRINGLE)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the milk and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let stand for 10 minutes to dissolve. Stir in cream.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt and cardamom. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or pinching with your fingers until it is a course mealy texture. Stir in the yeast mixture until well blended. Pat into a ball, flatten slightly, then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
• To make the filling, mix the almond paste, almonds, sugar, cinnamon and almond extract using an electric mixer until evenly blended. It may be crumbly.
• Roll the chilled dough out into a 2 inch wide and 24 inch long rectangle. Spread the filling to within 2 inches of the sides and roll up into a tube. Cover your work surface with sugar, and roll the tube of dough in the sugar to coat thoroughly. Roll and stretch the dough out to form a long rope about 40 inches long. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and shape into a pretzel shape.
• Brush the top of the pretzel with egg white and sprinkle with almonds. Cover loosely with a towel and let rise for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake the kringle in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cut into slices to serve.

OLD DANISH CHRISTMAS KRINGLE (DANSK SMøRKRINGLE)

Steps:

• Make the dough: Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a medium mixing bowl. Let the mixture stand 5 minutes until bubbly. Add the milk, cardamom, 1/4 cup sugar, egg yolks and cream. Stir well and set side.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour and salt. Place the cubed butter on top of the flour and pulse until pea-sized pieces of butter form. Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the yeast mixture to the flour. Mix together just until the ingredients are moistened. Using your hands, briefly knead in any of the flour that didn't incorporate. Cover with plastic wrap and chill the dough overnight.
• Make the filling: Break the almond paste into pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and knead together with your hands. The mixture will be thick.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Knead together any loose dough pieces. Dough will be firm at first, so pound it flat with a rolling pin until it loosens a bit and becomes pliable. Roll to 24-inches square, picking up parts of the dough and spreading flour underneath intermittently so that it does not stick to the work surface.
• Fold dough into thirds to make a long narrow strip. Roll the strip to about 36-inches in length, to about 1/4 inch thickness. Optional: Trim the ragged edges of the pastry to neaten the presentation. I removed about 1/2 inch of dough on all edges.
• Place the filling in the center of the dough. The filling will be thick and clumpy, so place it by the handfuls or use two spoons - one spoon to pick up the filling and another to scrape it from the spoon and onto the dough.
• Brush the long edges of the dough with egg wash and fold each edge towards the center, overlapping one edge of the dough slightly over the other (see video) and completely encasing the filling.
• Transfer the dough to the baking sheet, and place it seam-side-down. Gently form the length of dough to a wreath shape that overlaps slightly at the ends. Use egg wash to secure the ends together (see video). Cover the entire pastry with egg wash and immediately sprinkle with coarse sugar. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let proof in a warm place for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake the pastry for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet and then transfer to a large serving platter.
• Make the glaze: Place the confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl and add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until a thick glaze forms. (I used 2 tbsp.) Add the vanilla and pinch of salt. Whisk together. Pour over the warm kringle. Immediately scatter chopped pecans and walnuts over the wet glaze.
• Serve immediately or the glaze will set in about 30 minutes (if you can wait that long for a bite!).

DANISH KRINGLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cut 1 cup butter into flour until crumbly, leaving pea-sized chunks. Stir in sour cream, and mix well; dough will be very sticky. Form dough into a ball. Cover tightly, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Prepare the filling by combining 1 cup butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup chopped walnuts.
• Divide dough into three equal parts; return two parts to the refrigerator to keep cold. Quickly form 1/3 of the dough into a rectangle, and flour lightly. On a heavily floured surface, roll out to approximately 12x17 inches. Position lengthwise on the work surface. Along the long edges of the dough rectangle, use a sharp knife to cut 4 inch long angled lines about 1/2 inch apart. Spoon 1/3 of the filling along the length of the rectangle's uncut center. Alternating from one side of the dough to the other, fold each 1/2 inch wide strip towards the center, crisscrossing the filling in a braid-like fashion. Lightly press together the ends of the strips to seal. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the remaining walnuts. Repeat with remaining ingredients to form 3 braided danishes. Arrange danishes on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Cool for approximately 30 minutes. While the danishes are cooling, prepare the icing: mix confectioners sugar and water until smooth. Drizzle in fine streams over warm danishes.