I love easter breaded bread, a couple of years ago, I posted the traditional recipe that you can find here, but this year I wanted to give them a turn and make something different out of the traditional recipe; so what came out of my head is a mix between the traditional recipe (same dough) and the popular Swedish buns, Semlor. I filled them with almond cream and topped them with cream. I didn´t expect they were so delicious but the bread and the almond cream together are fantastic!
The ingredients needed are:
To make the buns:
Fresh yeast (25 gr)
125 gr of butter
1 large glass of milk
100/150 gr of sugar
3 eggs
A dash of anise liqueur
A pinch of salt
Flour (600 gr more or less)
For the almond cream: (it can be used as a cake filling and you can storage in the fridge up to seven days)
125 gr of caster sugar
125 gr of butter at room temperature
125 gr of ground almond
25 gr of flour
Two teaspoons of almond essence or any other liquor (optional)
Two eggs
Prepare first the almond cream, so you will have it ready when the buns come out of the oven.
Beat the butter until is pale and fluffy, add the sugar and continue beating until well combined. Add the almond, the flour and mix well, add the eggs one at the time and finally the almond essence, continue beating for a couple of minutes until your cream is soft and fluffy
Making the buns:
In a bowl mix the warm milk, melted butter, the sugar and the yeast and stir well; add to the mixture the three beaten eggs and the anise, mix well.
Continue mixing and adding the flour until you have to star working the dough with your hands, make a ball and cover the dough with a clean cloth, and leave it to raise for about 15 minutes.
When the dough has doubled in size, knead again, divide the dough in smaller pieces (12 more or less) and form balls with your hands. Place them in the oven tray and cover them again with a cloth, let them rest for about 1 or two hours to rise again. Brush them with beaten egg and spinkle some sugar on top before bringing them to the oven at 200ºC for about 20 minutes.
Let the buns cool for ten minutes, cut the tops and with a small spoon make a hole in the centre of the the bun and fill them woth almond cream decorate with cream and finally place the hat on top, dust woth powder sugar on top.
Ready, enjoy!!!
