Almond Filled Braid

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 3/4 cup lukewarm milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 4 1/2-5 cups flour
• 1 (12 ounce) can almond filling
• powdered sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 dissolve yeast in warm water.
• 2 mix together milk, sugar, and salt, and add to yeast mixture.
• 3 stir in butter and eggs.
• 4 add 1/2 celsius flour and beat well.
• 5 add enough of remaining flour to handle easily and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• 6 place in a greased bowl and turn once.
• 7 cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 8 punch down and let rise again until almost double, about 30 minutes.
• 9 roll into a 8 by 14 inch rectangle and place on a greased baking sheet.
• 10 spread almond filling down the center of the dough about 2-3 inches wide.
• 11 on both sides of filling make 1 1/2-2 inch cuts one inch apart down the length of the rectangle.
• 12 take one strip at a time and alternating sides cross them at the center of the filling.
• 13 bake at 350 f until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.
• 14 if desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.