Mom T's Bear Claws

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package yeast
• 1/4 cup water, warm (110 degrees)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 5 ounces evaporated milk
• 3 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar, unsifted
• 2/3 cup flour
• 8 ounces almond paste
• 1 teaspoon lemon peel, grated
• 2 egg whites
• 3/4 cup almonds, finely chopped
• 1 egg , ligthly beaten
• 1/4-1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2-1 cup almonds, sliced

Recipe

• 1 to make dough - dissolve yeast in water. stir in sugar, egg yolks, milk and cooled butter. stir into flour and chill for 24 hours.
• 2 to make filling - combine all filling ingredients and mix well. refrigerate 24 hours.
• 3 to make bear claws - roll dough out to a 13 1/3" x 27" rectangle on a floured board. cut into 3 strips about 4 1/2" wide.
• 4 divide filling into 3 parts. roll into 27" strips. place one strip onto the center of each dough strip. fold each side up over center. brush with egg . sprinkle with sugar and sliced almonds. cut each strip into 6 pieces.
• 5 place on a cookie sheet. make 4 cuts along folded edge and fan a bit to resemble a bear claw. cover and let rise 20 minutes.
• 6 bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.