Our friend Janelle has been here visiting for about a week. Today was our last day with Janelle! I wanted to make a special brunch to have with her before her flight. I made cheesy grits, fried potatoes, bacon, oven scrambled eggs and my Swedish Tea Ring. I have made this recipe for more than 20 years. It is my favorite sweet yeast dough! It is light and tender. Here is my recipe made without my favorite rolling pin and baking sheet. I can improvise!
Swedish Tea Ring
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons yeast or 2 small packages
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups all-purpose sifted flour ( I use unbleached)
Melted butter
1/2 lb. brown sugar
1 Tablespoon + Cinnamon ( I like a lot of cinnamon so I keep adding)
Chopped nuts optional
You may add frosting if you wish. (Recipe below)
Preheat the oven 375°. Scald milk and pour over butter, sugar, and salt, sprinkle yeast over the lukewarm water. Cool milk to lukewarm (less than 110°), add to the yeast mixture. Add well-beaten eggs. Beat in flour to make a soft dough. Turn out on a floured board and knead until smooth. Form into ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until double in bulk. Time can vary, it took mine an hour to rise. When light shape into 2 rectangular sheets about 1/4 inch thick. I mix the cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl. I brush the rolled out dough with the melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon brown sugar mixture. Roll in jelly roll fashion and shape into rings. Place on greased cookie sheets and cut with scissors at 1” intervals almost through your ring.
You may want to turn your cut slices slightly to make a fancier ring. Cover and let rise until double in bulk. Bake at 375° F for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy. Variations: While warm, frost with powdered sugar frosting and sprinkle with chopped nuts. This makes 2 rings. I think this is the most wonderful thing I bake!
This frosting is great to drizzle on the Swedish tea ring, cinnamon rolls or other pastries.
Simple Frosting for Pastries
2 Tablespoons of melted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
the flavoring of your choice: vanilla, almond, etc.
1-3 Tablespoons of milk added one at a time until you reach the right consistency.
Melt the butter stir in the powdered sugar and flavoring and 1 Tablespoon of the milk. Stir until creamy. Add more milk a bit at a time until you reach drizzle consistency. Yummy!