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Estonian kringle

Kringel: twisted Estonian cinnamon-sugar yeast wreath

Kringel is the celebration bread of Estonia, baked for birthdays and name days and carried to every visit: a rich yeast dough rolled with cinnamon butter and sugar, sliced lengthways, twisted into a braided wreath so the layers show, and baked until golden. In Tallinn's old-town cafés it is sold by the slice with coffee. A common mistake is cutting the roll with a blunt knife, which squashes the layers. Chef's tip: chill the filled roll for 15 minutes before slicing; it cuts cleanly and twists without the filling escaping.
Total time
70 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
12
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Ingredients

Serves12

For the dough

For the filling

For the top

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Fresh ingredients (4)

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Method

0/6 done
  1. Step 1: Mix 16 oz plain flour, ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast, 1 ¾ oz sugar, ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp ground cardamom. Add ¾ cup warm milk, 1 egg and 2 ⅛ oz soft butter and knead for 8 minutes. Cover and rise 1 hour.

    8 min
  2. Step 2: Beat 2 ⅞ oz soft butter, 2 ⅞ oz soft brown sugar and 1 tbsp ground cinnamon to a paste.

  3. Step 3: Roll the dough into a 30 × 50 cm rectangle, spread with filling and roll up tightly from the long side. Chill for 15 minutes.

    15 min
  4. Step 4: Cut the roll in half lengthways with a sharp knife, leaving 2 cm joined at one end. Twist the halves together, cut side up, and shape into a wreath or pretzel. Common mistake: a blunt knife; the layers squash.

  5. Step 5: Rise on a lined tray for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 375°F (fan 350°F).

    30 min
  6. Step 6: Brush with 1 egg yolk and bake for 25–30 minutes, until deep golden.

    30 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
290 kcal
Protein
5 g
Carbs
38 g
Fat
13 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does estonian kringle take?
About 70 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
What can I use instead of plain flour?
Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
Fresh yeast, three times the weight.

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