Klingeris- Lativia #88

Klingeris- Lativia #88

A pretzel shaped sweet bread with raisins and spices. A Klingeris is typically used to celebrate birthdays and name days.

Ingredients:

2 tsp. yeast
1/2 c. warm water
1/2 tsp. saffron
1 c.sugar
1 c. heavy cream
2 eggs
2 tsp. thin strips of lemon zest
2 tstp. thin strips of orange zest
1 tsp. cardamom
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. softened butter
1-1/2-6 c. flour
1 c. raisins

Topping:

1 egg for egg wash
1/4 c. thinly sliced almonds

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water with saffron and a pinch of sugar.  Let set 5 minutes.
2. Mix yeast with remaining ingredients (except almonds) in  bowl of standing mixer, adding as much flour as needed to form a soft dough.
3. Knead dough, with mixer dough hook, for 10 mins.  Look for it to pull away from sides of bowl.
4. Let rise 1-1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
5. Roll into a long log- 3 feet.  Then cross ends over each other to form a pretzel.  Leave a fist size opening in each of the pretzel holes.
6. Let rise for 30mins.
7. Preheat oven 350F.
8. Brush dough with beaten egg and sprinkle with almonds.
9. Bake 45-55 mins. or until golden brown and cooked through.
10. Cool, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Results: This is not a difficult cake to make, especially if you have a standing mixer with a dough hook.  I substituted turmeric for the saffron. Saffron was $14.00 for a small bottle. Knowing I only needed a half teaspoon it didn't make sense to spend $14.00. Turmeric gives it a bit of color. I don't think it added much to the taste.  I baked it for 55 minutes and I think it could have baked a bit longer. It was very good.  However, one of my tasters just doesn't like raisins.  So, the next cake won't have raisins.  

Bottom Line: I probably won't make this one again but it was interesting to make; besides, there are so many more cakes to make.

Please share this blog with raisin lovers of the world and anyone else you can think of. Thanks.