Kaffelrod or Swedish Christmas Ring

•  1 c. warmed milk
• 1/2 c. margarine or butter
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cardamom
• 2 yeast cakes or 2 TBSP. yeast
• 1/4 c. warm water (not hot)
• 2 well-beaten eggs
• 4 1/4 c. flour
• melted butter
• cinnamon
• brown sugar
• confectioners sugar
• chopped walnuts of pecans

Warm milk, add sugar, salt and cardamom, soften yeast in warm water. Beat eggs, add to cooled milk mixture, add softened yeast. Stir together. Add flour, knead lightly. Let rise until double in bulk. Divide in half. Roll each into a rectangle. After brushing melted butter on, add cinnamon and brown sugar. (nuts or raisins are optional). 

Lift each half onto a large cookie sheet or pizza pan. Join halves to make a doughnut shape. Clip with scissors every 1" and twist each cut to open up. Cover and place in warm place until light. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 min. Remove from pan immediately and frost while still hot with confectioners sugar, sprinkle with chopped nuts. If desired, decorate with red and green gumdrops.

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