Semlor (Fat Tuesday Buns)

Ingredients

• •5 tablespoons butter
• •1 cup milk
• •3 packages dried activated yeast
• •3 tablespoons sugar
• •1 egg, beaten
• •1/4 teaspoon salt
• •3 cups flour
• •Glaze:
• •1 egg or 1 egg white, beaten
• •Filling:
• •7 ounces almond paste
• •1/3 cup milk, approximately
• •whipping cream
• •Powdered sugar
• •Milk for serving, optional

Directions

1. 1Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the cold milk and let cool until 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Test it with a finger, the mixture should be feel warm but not hot. If you’re not sure, wait a few minutes since a too-hot liquid will kill the yeast.
2. 2Pour the butter and milk mixture into a large bowl. Sprinkle the use on top, along with about a teaspoon of sugar. Allow yeast to proof about five minutes
3. 3in a warm, draft-free place.
4. 4When yeast has formed little bubbles in the liquid, add the rest of the sugar, one egg, the salt , and the flour. Mix well with a fork.
5. 5Knead dough on a lightly-floured surface for a couple of minutes. Form dough into a ball and place in a bowl, covered with a cloth, and let dough rise for 30 minutes.
6. 6Remove from the bowl and knead dough on a lightly floured surface for a few minutes. Divide dough first into two parts. Divide each part into about 5 smaller pieces and roll into balls that are slightly smaller than a tennis ball. Place these balls of dough on a greased baking sheet, cover with a cloth, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 20 minutes.
7. 7Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the top of each bun with the beaten egg. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until tops of the buns are a light golden brown.
8. 8Remove from baking sheet and let cool on a rack.
9. 9When cool, cut a small slice off the top of each bun and set aside. Using a fork, scrape out the center of each bun and put in a medium bowl.
10. 10Add the grated almond paste and a little milk, a tablespoon or two at a time, mashing and stirring the mixture with a fork until a paste forms. Spoon this paste back into the buns. Whip the cream until stiff. Using a spoon or a pastry tube, put the whipped cream on top of the filling. Place the lid back on each bun and, using a sieve or tea strainer, sprinkle the top of the bun with powdered sugar.
11. 11Semlor can be served at room temperature on a plate or, more traditionally, in a bowl with hot milk.