Great-Aunt Mary's Coffee Cake

This is a special family recipe that we've eaten every year for Christmas breakfast. :) Just thought I'd share!

Great-Aunt Mary's Coffee Cake

Serves 10

Ingredients:

2 pkg dry yeast (1 pkg= 1 Tbsp)
1/3 c. sugar
3/4 c. scalded milk
1/4 c. warm water
1 tsp cardamom
1 egg
2/3 c. butter
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2- 4 c. flour

Filling:

2/3 c. sugar
2 Tbsp cinnamon

Glaze:

1 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp water (or milk)

Directions:

Soften the yeast in the warm water.
In a separate bowl mix butter, sugar, cardamom, salt and hot scalded milk. Cool to room temperature.
Add egg, yeast and beat thoroughly while slowly adding 2 1/2 c. of flour. (The rest of the flour is for powdering the surface and your hands while you knead the dough.)

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and turn to coat the whole ball of dough. Cover bowl with dishtowel and place in a warm, dry place until doubled in size.

When doubled, knead the dough and roll out into a 10x24 inch rectangle. Spread with melted butter and sprinkle with the filling mixture. Roll the dough lengthwise like a jelly roll and then form a ring. Place on a greased cookie sheet, spread with melted butter, and cover it again until it's doubled in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
Spread with the glaze.
Eat! :)

We sometimes make this without the cardamom, but it's great either way. I wish I had a picture of it...but we usually eat it too fast to remember pictures.

Enjoy! (And if you do make it, tell me what you think!)