Enjoy a classic holiday dessert with this flavorful Estonian Kringle recipe. It is the perfect baked treat to bring with you to holiday gatherings and parties with family and friends.
Christmas Estonian Kringle Bread Recipe
The best part about waking up on Christmas morning is not only the presents, but the Christmas breakfast! There is always something sweet to eat that brings everyone together around the dining room table.
This Estonian Kringle is a braided pastry that is traditionally served around Christmastime. It is a sweet homemade breakfast bread that is perfect for slicing and sharing with others.
Why You’ll Love this Christmas Bread Recipe:
- Versatile recipe. This sweet treat makes a great breakfast or dessert.
- Make-ahead friendly. You can make this bread the night before and have it ready for Christmas morning.
- Great for a crowd. You can slice this Estonian Kringle into pieces that are perfect for sharing.
How to Make Homemade Estonian Kringle
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Add your sugar and yeast to a small bowl and then add in the warm milk, melted butter, egg, and maple extract.
- Grab a large bowl and combine flour with a teaspoon of brown sugar.
- Add your milk mixture into the dry mixture.
- Knead until well combined, shaping the dough into a ball.
- Lightly oil the sides of the bowl and then place your dough ball inside.
- Allow it to double in size.
- Make your filling by creaming butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar together.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to 18×12 inches.
- Add your butter mixture to the dough and spread it evenly.
- Sprinkle pecans and raisins on top.
- Roll the dough lengthwise from one side to the next, making sure it’s tight.
- Use a knife to cut the dough log in half.
- Pinch the top of both pieces of dough together and cross the dough pieces over each other like you’re braiding, keeping the cut side facing up.
- Place on a cooking sheet, and bake for 22 minutes in the oven.
An Estonian Kringle is a baked treat commonly served for breakfast or dessert. It is a homemade braided bread that has a sweet cinnamon filling.
An Estonian Kringle is made out of layers of yeasted dough and filled with sweet cinnamon filling, raisins, and nuts. It is rolled similarly to cinnamon rolls, but cut lengthwise instead of crosswise to reveal beautiful layers.
It can be both, really. It pairs beautifully with a cup of coffee but is sweet enough to be an after-dinner treat. Traditionally, kringles are served for breakfast, but this easy dessert recipe can be eaten at any time of day.
If you don’t have any raisins on hand or just aren’t a fan, try substituting them with other dried fruits, such as cranberries, chopped dates, or apricots.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Be sure to place a bit of flour on your table or any other surface before you begin rolling the dough to keep it from sticking.
- If you don’t have pecans, you can use walnuts.
- When rolling the dough, make sure to do so tightly to keep it all together. If you’re not rolling it tightly enough, it can easily fall apart
More Bread Recipes
This Estonian kringle is the perfect treat to wake up to on Christmas morning. It is an easy homemade bread recipe that can be enjoyed with a cup of coffee or even as a mid-day snack. Slice this sweet treat and share it with family and friends this holiday season.
If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
Estonian Kringle Recipe
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 7 grams (1 envelope)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 13 grams
- ¾ cup milk 170 grams, lukewarm (110°F)
- 1 teaspoon maple extract 4 grams
- ¼ cup salted butter 57 grams, melted (½ stick)
- 1 large egg 50 grams, room temperature
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 270 grams
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar 4 grams
For the Filling
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams, softened (½ stick)
- ½ cup salted butter 113 grams, softened (1 stick)
- ¼ cup brown sugar 53 grams
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 9 grams
- ¼ cup chopped pecans 29 grams
- ¼ cup raisins 37 grams
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Instant Read Thermometer (optional)
- Stand Mixer (optional)
- Hand Mixer (optional)
Instructions
- Add the yeast and sugar to a small bowl. Add the warm milk, maple extract, melted butter, and the egg and whisk well. Set aside.2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¾ cup milk, 1 teaspoon maple extract, ¼ cup salted butter, 1 large egg
- In a separate, large bowl, mix the flour and brown sugar together. Add the milk mixture and stir until it starts to thicken. Knead until well combined and shape into a ball. Lightly oil the sides of the bowl and place the dough ball inside, covered with a kitchen towel. Set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.2¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prepare the filling. Cream the butters, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Set aside.¼ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup salted butter, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into an 18×12-inch rectangle.
- Add the butter mixture to the dough and spread, stopping ½-inch from the edge.
- Evenly sprinkle the pecans and raisins over top. Tightly roll the dough lengthwise from one side to the other.¼ cup chopped pecans, ¼ cup raisins
- Use a sharp knife to cut the dough log in half lengthwise.
- Pinch together the top of both pieces of dough. Then, cross the dough pieces over each other as if braiding, keeping the cut sides up.
- Pinch to seal the ends together and connect the top ends to the bottom ends, forming a circle.
- Place onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 22 minutes, until golden brown and 205°F internally. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Be sure to place a bit of flour on your table or any other surface before you begin rolling the dough to keep it from sticking.
- If you don’t have pecans, you can use walnuts.
- When rolling the dough, make sure to do so tightly to keep it all together. If you’re not rolling it tightly enough, it can easily fall apart
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