Ingredients
Cake
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup water, warm
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/3 cup (2/3 stick) butter, softened
- 1/4 cup Domino® Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon rind, grated
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 dried bean or pecan half
Royal Icing
- 4 cups Domino® Powdered Sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1/3 cup warm water
Directions
Cake
- In small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; let stand 5 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, over low heat, bring milk just to a boil. Add butter, sugar and salt, stirring constantly until butter melts; let cool.
- At medium speed with electric mixer, beat butter mixture with eggs, vanilla and lemon rind. Stir in yeast. Reduce speed and gradually add flour, beating well after each addition, until a soft dough forms.
- Turn dough out onto lightly floured board; knead 8 minutes. Place dough in a large greased bowl; turn once. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; allow to rise in a warm place until double in bulk (up to 1 1/2 hours). Turn dough out onto lightly floured board; knead 1 minute.
- Divide dough into thirds. Place a bean or pecan half in one of the dough sections. Roll out each third of dough into a 30-inch length rope. Loosely braid the three dough strips from end to end. Form into a circle and seal ends.
- Place dough ring on a cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap; allow to rise in a warm place until double in bulk (about 1 hour).
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.
Royal Icing
- Combine all ingredients together in mixing bowl. Beat on low speed with whip attachment until combined then increase speed to medium high and beat for 5 – 8 minutes, adding 2-3 tablespoons more warm water, as necessary. Icing should be stiff enough to hold a peak when tested. Use this thick icing to outline cookies.
- Put green, purple and yellow dyes in a separate bowls. Divide royal icing to each bowl. Mix until desired color is achieved.
- Use royal icing immediately.
Formulation courtesy of Domino Sugar