Swedish Bread

Method

1. 2½ cups scalded milk 1 yeast cake Flour ½ cup melted butter ⅔ cup sugar 1 egg, well beaten ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon almond extract Add yeast cake to one-half cup milk which has been allowed to cool until lukewarm;
2. as soon as dissolved add one-half cup flour, beat thoroughly, cover, and let rise.
3. When light, add remaining milk and four and one-half cups flour.
4. Stir until thoroughly mixed, cover, and again let rise;
5. then add remaining ingredients and one and one-half cups flour.
6. Toss on a floured cloth and knead, using one-half cup flour, cover, and again let rise.
7. Shape as Swedish Tea Braid or Tea Ring I or II, and bake.
8. Swedish Tea Braid.
9. Cut off three pieces of mixture of equal size and roll, using the hands, in pieces of uniform size;
10. then braid.
11. Put on a buttered sheet, cover, let rise, brush over with yolk of one egg, slightly beaten, and diluted with one-half tablespoon cold water, and sprinkle with finely chopped blanched almonds.
12. Bake in a moderate oven.
13. Swedish Tea Ring I.
14. Shape as tea braid, form in shape of ring, and proceed as with tea braid, having almonds blanched and cut in slices crosswise.
15. Swedish Tea Ring II.
16. Take one-third Swedish Bread mixture and shape, using the hands, in a long roll.
17. Put on an unfloured board and roll, using a rolling-pin, as thinly as possible.
18. Mixture will adhere to board but may be easily lifted with a knife.
19. Spread with melted butter, sprinkle with sugar and chopped blanched almonds or cinnamon.
20. Roll like a jelly roll, cut a piece from each end and join ends to form ring.
21. Place on a buttered sheet, and cut with scissors and shape (see illustration).
22. Let rise, and proceed as with Tea Ring I.