German Schnecken

Rich with spice, nuts, and sugar, this is a German version of the ever popular caramel pecan roll.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 2 doz

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon active dry yeast (1 pkg)
• 1⁄4 cup warm water
• 1  cup milk or 1  cup  cream, scalded
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 5  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  eggs, well beaten
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine, softened

• FOR THE SUGAR AND NUT MIXTURE

• 2⁄3 cup butter or 2⁄3 cup margarine, melted
• 1  cup pecan pieces, coarsely chopped
• 1  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup currants
• 1  tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1  cup  small pecan halves

Directions

1. Soften yeast in the warm water.
2. Pour the scalded milk over sugar and salt in a large bowl; stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool to lukewarm.
3. Blend in 1 cup of the flour and beat until smooth. Stir in yeast. Add ABOUT HALF the remaining flour and beat until very smooth. Beat in the eggs. Vigorously beat in the 1/2 cup softened butter, 2 to 3 tablespoons at a time. Beat in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.
4. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Cover and let REST 10 minutes.
5. Knead until smooth and elastic ABOUT 10 MINUTES. Form into a ball and put into a greased deep bowl; turn dough to bring greased surface to top. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
6. Punch dough down; pull edges of dough in to center and turn over completely in bowl. Cover; let rise again until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes.
7. Lightly grease twenty- four 2 1/2 inch muffin pan wells. Put about 1 teaspoon of the melted butter into each well; reserve remaining butter.
8. Mix the chopped nuts, brown sugar, currants, and cinnamon. Spoon 2 teaspoons into each well and gently press 3 or 4 pecan halves onto mixture.
9. Again punch dough down; form into 2 balls. Roll ball into a rectangle 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick, 6 to 8 inches wide, and 12 inches long. Brush top surface of dough with half the remaining melted butter and sprinkle evenly with half the remaining brown sugar mixture. Beginning with longer side, roll dough tightly into a long roll. Cut roll into 12 slices. Place a slice, cut side down, in each well. Repeat with second ball. Cover; let rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes.
10. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes. Invert muffing pans on wire racks, set on waxed paper or aluminum foil, leaving pans over Schnecken 5 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks, glazed side up. To store, wrap tightly in foil Reheat just before serving. 2 dozen Schnecken.
11. CAI The Canadian Family Cookbook.