Monday, November 23, 2015

Swedish Tea Ring



Murder Most Howl comes out tomorrow! I can hardly believe that it's here. So today I'm sharing a recipe from the book. We loved this! It's a big holiday tradition in Sweden, but honestly, it's delicious anytime. This recipe is a variation on the traditional recipe. It's served at tea time at the Sugar Maple Inn when snow is falling outside.

Initially, it seems a little bit complicated, but once you've made it a time or two, you'll see that it's really not more difficult than making most yeast breads. Plus, there's a decent waiting time between each of the steps, so it's not like you're hanging around in the kitchen endlessly.

The toughest part is rolling it into a long roll that is equal in size throughout. You'll see in the photos that the ends of mine were tapered. You don't want that! Okay, so it was still really good, but ideally, you'll be forewarned and keep those ends as big as the middle.

Please note that you can use raisins instead of dried cherries in the filling. I used fresh cherries to decorate it because I happened to have them, but Maraschino cherries are traditional and prettier.

Swedish Tea Ring

Dough
½ cup milk
½ cup water
2 packages instant yeast
3½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon cardamom

Filling
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ cup walnuts, chopped
½ cup dried cherries

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
maraschino cherries

Warm the milk and water to 105ºF to 110ºF. Sprinkle the yeast on it and stir with a fork. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Pour into a mixing bowl and use the dough hook of your mixer. Add 3 cups flour, butter, salt, sugar, egg, and cardamom. Mix until a soft ball forms. If it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour about ½ cup at a time. Let the mixer knead the dough about five minutes. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a couple more times until smooth.

Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch down the dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out to a 12-by-18-inch rectangle.

To make the filling, spread the softened butter on top of the rectangle. In another bowl, mix the cinnamon, sugar, walnuts, and dried cherries. Sprinkle across the dough. Roll the dough into a long, tight roll and press the seam closed. With the seam turned downward, seal the two ends together to make a ring.

Move the ring to the prepared parchment paper. With a sharp knife, slice the dough every inch or so, cutting only three-quarters of the way through. Cover the roll with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375ºF, and bake 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the ring from the oven and place on a rack to cool.


When cooled, stir together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, and drizzle the glaze all over the ring. Decorate with maraschino cherries if desired.


Use the dough hook on your mixer.

Grease and turn over before it rises.

Spread butter on the rolled out dough.

Sprinkle with cinnamon, nuts and dried cherries.

This is where you want your roll to be as thick on the ends as the middle.

You can see that it's not as big on the side where the ends meet. Don't do that! ; )

Slice, but not all the way through, and allow to rise.

Fresh from the oven!





Murder Most Howl will be here tomorrow! I have two copies to give away. Leave a comment with your email address so I can notify you if you win. I'll be choosing winners around 6PM eastern time today so I can get the books in the mail tomorrow. Good luck!

61 comments:

  1. I loved the first book

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

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  2. I loved the first book

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

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  3. Swedish Tea Ring looks delicious! Thank you for the recipe and giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. So...no more difficult than other yeast breads??? Let me describe the bread fiasco of 1992. I was a young newlywed who could barely boil water, but I was determined to bake my new husband bread. Let us just say it was a disaster and we used the rock that resulted from my attempt as a door jam for the rest of the week. I was so traumatized that I never attempted bread making again until yesterday when my daughter and I decided to make rolls. They turned out delicious, if a tad ugly. Should we have mixed the dough a bit more???? This looks yummy and beautiful!!!! Looking forward to getting my copy of Murder Most Howl on Tuesday. ..actually I will pick it up on Friday, otherwise I will be too distracted. I have a house full showing up on Thursday

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    1. That's such a cute story, Jody! I think we all go through those moments. I remember baking a blueberry bread that even the squirrels wouldn't touch!

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    2. And squirrels will eat anything!

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  5. My Mum baked a bread very similar to this years ago (although she is Scottish, not Swedish!) That memory and your photos inspire me to try it. And I'll read the book too.
    Nancy R in Ottawa

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  6. The tea end looks good.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  7. Don't blame you for being excited. Plus this Swedish Tea Ring looks yummy!

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  8. would love to win acopy of your book!!!! You make this recipe look too easy. I have tried some of these in the past and my dough never comes out right. Thanks for the chance!!!! darholley1@aol.com

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  9. deepotter@peoplepc.com Another chance at Murder Most Howl is SSOO welcome! Thank you!!!. When the kids were little we made bread every Saturday. We had so much going on that we devoted Saturday to family time which included the menu for the week. Casseroles in the freezer, ready to warm. Got so I would put into the dough 3/4 of the flour asked for, then dusted well for kneading. Made the bread a little lighter and it's making faster. Our thing was to sit down with real butter and a favored movie when the bread was fresh out of the oven. We would chow down on warm bread and laugh at the antics of the animals in the videos. Half a loaf was gone in no time. the other loaf and half would almost last til the next saturday. Sometimes the kids would get really silly with their suggestions for ingredients in the casseroles. Such as 'garter' snakes. Toads. Eye of newt. (Too much Bedknobs and Broom ssticks). Will have to give that recipe a try. Thanks.

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  10. Thank you so much for the giveaway! I love this series and can't wait to read Murder Most Howl! Congratulations (a little early) on it's release! smmolloy1105@yahoo.com

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  11. Want to read this series. So far behind but the reviews I have reads for those that got ARCs I think I might jump in and read this right away. Thanks for the chance. Lady.janel@hotmail.com

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  12. I would love to win your new book. I enjoyed reading your books while recovering from surgery this summer. I am looking forward to your new book.

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  13. I haven't tried making a yeast bread from scratch for years---maybe it's time to try again.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  14. Thanks for the chance to win.
    marlene(dot)ezell(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I am so hoping that I'm well enough to get the his book on Wednesday! But, if not, I can hope to win it! Thanks for the chance! book__wyrm@sbcglobal.net

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  16. love this series..thanks for the chance to win

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  17. I've never eaten Swedish Tea Ring but anything with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts and covered with a glaze of powered sugar, milk and vanilla HAS to be delicious!
    Thanks for this recipe and giveaway.
    Connie
    cps1950 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  18. I AM SWEDISH!!! I am gonna print this out and bake it. rachaelabrams317@gmail.com

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  19. I've never had Swedish Tea Ring but this sounds wonderful. I'm looking forward to another visit to Sugar Maple Inn, with Trixie and Twinkletoes! Congratulations on book #3. Hope there w/b lots more. patucker54 (at aol dot com)

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  20. Looks delish! Can't wait for the book.

    rabidreader1970 @ gmail.com

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  21. Well this looks wonderful too...and I would love to read the Book I've had it on my list for several weeks. Please enter me and thanks for the contest.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  22. Thank you for the chance! This is on my to be read list!
    karen(dot)kenyon(at)rogers(dot)com

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  23. I want tea at the Sugar Maple Inn!!! :-) Thanks for the recipe, I'm adding it to my list of things to bake this season. nicolev.girldetective@gmail.com

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  24. How delectable. I would love this for the holidays. Thanks for this great feature. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. I have not read any of your books , but always looking for new authors . Would love to win .
    lizd225@gmail.com

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  26. Can't wait to read the book and try the recipes. Kkcochran@hotmail.com

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  27. Congrats on the release!

    I have been trying all the recent recipes here - big hits! - so this will be next on the list. Doesn't look too difficult, considering it's yeast bread. The picture looks yummy. thanks!
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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  28. Sharon Baker. slpetera@yahoo.comNovember 23, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    I love these books. Pick them up whenever I see them. They are so entertaining and the recipes are divine. Thank you so much for writing and entertaining us.

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  29. I would really love to win a copy of this book, but if I don't, I'm going to buy it!
    estelleheather@gmail.com

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  30. I would love to win a copy of Krista's latest book. Thank you for the delicious recipe, too. robeader53@yahoo.com

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  31. I would love to win a copy of this book.

    angelbear19662000@yahoo.com

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  32. Your Swedish Tea Ring is so beautiful and would be perfect for the upcoming holidays! Thanks for sharing the recipe and thanks for the chance to win your new book!
    kimdavishb@gmail.com

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  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  34. I would love to win a copy of your book and if I did, how nice it would be to enjoy some of your Swedish Tea Ring as well. It looks yummy!

    Almost forgot my email: conniecape@aol.com

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  35. Love that book cover!
    Onorman(at)wilkes(dot)net

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  36. I can just see this being served at the Sugar Maple Inn for tea! I know yeast is bad for pets, but do the dogs and cats get something special at tea time too? bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  37. I love your recipe lost my grandma who was 100 and she was Swedish and we would make Swedish butter cookies and spritz together. She would of loved this also. ptclayton2@aol.com

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  38. Forgot email
    a.connolley@gmail.com

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  39. I would love to win a copy of your book!
    lindaherold999@gmail.com
    Thanks for the chance!

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  40. Oh my goodness this recipe looks amazing and better yet, doable!!! :) Thanks for sharing and the chance to win! I can't wait to read this book.
    awilcox1182@gmail.com

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  41. This recipe is delightful and perfect. The book sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  42. I have not tried much in yeast breads but am so tempted. The results look fabulous and the description not as hard as I would have imagined!
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  43. I look forward to reading this book either by winning it or purchasing it. Thank you for the chance to win it. Email mmarcincin@aol.com

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  44. I cannot wait to read Murder Most Howl. Who would not want to live in Wagtail? I would fit in with my three dogs and many cats. I hope you have a wonderful release day and a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for a chance to win! Doodlesink@hotmail.com

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  45. Congrats on the book. The recipe looks so yummy...I wish someone would make it for me. robin.christofaro@yahoo.com

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    1. Lots of different breads but no tea ring. Maybe next year. Love your books all series. Gaga68211@gmail

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  46. This looks tasty.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  47. Susan Eggers is having trouble posting. This is her official entry.

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  48. Krista, thank goodness for your facebook post! I had an early appointment today and forgot I hadn't done my usual morning internet visits.
    I might have missed this wonderful looking treat.
    Congratulations on the new book baby!

    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. Correction--Thank you MaryJane Maffini for your post.

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  49. Great recipe!!

    davisel1830@hotmail.com

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  50. Our winners are: Elizabeth D, Anne V, and Connie! Congratulations, ladies!

    I have a copy that someone hasn't claimed yet from a previous giveaway. If I don't hear from her tonight, I'll draw another name in the morning!

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  51. Congratulations! I haven't had time to read my copy yet, but I am really looking forward to it! The recipe looks so good! Thanks, Krista!

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  52. That looks amazing. I swear I could almost smell it as I looked at the photos. Love this series so much. Seriously, I adore it and if anyone hasnt read them, get them now. Congrats to the winners, You will love it!!

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  53. Just in case you don't hear from her I am tossing my email in the pile. Bobbipad@gmail.com

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