Cafe Marimba King's Bread

Preparation

1. Step 1

   In a bowl, combine 1½ cups of flour with the package of yeast and the salt.

2. Step 2

   Heat to 115 degrees, ⅓ cup milk and 6 tablespoons of the butter in a saucepan. Stir this into the flour mixture. Beat eggs until well blended and stir into flour mixture. Add as much of the remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough, turn out on a floured board and knead for 8 minutes or place in an electric mixer and knead with a dough hook. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turn to grease all sides of the dough, then cover loosely to set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

3. Step 3

   Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Punch dough and roll out to form a rectangle 12-by-20 inches. Brush with melted butter.

4. Step 4

   Mix together almonds, raisins, sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over the dough and place the trinket somewhere along the filling. Roll the dough from the long end jellyroll-style. Seal the edge by pinching. Bring together the two ends of the dough and join by pinching them together, forming a ring. Slash top of the dough at 1-inch intervals. Cover loosely and allow to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

5. Step 5

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the ring on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until browned.

6. Step 6

   Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Mix confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk to form a glaze with the consistency of thick cream. Spread on the top of the bread and scatter slivered almonds and raisins on it.