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½ cup of 100% bran cereal or raisin bran
½ cup of water
2 tablespoons margarine
1 ½ - 2 cups of flour divided
1 egg
1 package of quick rising yeast
¼ cup of sugar, divided in two portions (can be half white and half
brown)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup of chocolate chips
¾ cup of walnuts or pecans
¼ - ½ half of raisins or other dried fruit (optional)
¼ cup sour cream
powdered sugar (optional)
In a small saucepan heat the water, raisin bran, and margarine until very warm (125-130 degrees). The margarine will probably melt, but if it doesn’t that’s okay.
In a large bowl combine ½ cup of flour, the yeast, the salt, and half the sugar. If you are using both brown and white sugar, use the white sugar at this point. Stir in the warm bran mixture. Mix in one egg and enough additional flour to make a soft dough.
On a lightly floured surface, knead dough until it is smooth and elastic. This should take about six to eight minutes. Cover the dough and let rest for ten minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the remaining sugar (white or brown), nuts, sour cream, chocolate chips, and optionally, more raisins.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle about 10 x 5 inches or larger. Spread the nut mixture evenly over the dough, avoiding the sides. Roll up from the long end into a cylinder. Pinch the edges together to seal. Gently stretch and keep rolling until, it’s about 15 - 20 inches in length.
Take the two ends together to make a ring. Pinch together to seal. Another option is to make a heart shape. Or you can leave it as a simple roll. What ever shape you make, remember the yeast will make it almost double in size.
With a sharp knife make cuts on the sides of the ring deep enough to show the filling. Continue making the cuts all around the ring, each about 1 inch apart. Spread apart slightly to show more of the filling.
Place your roll or ring on a lightly greased cookie sheet with the seem side down. Cover with plastic wrap. Leave it in a warm place to rise. It should double in size within 30 - 45 minutes. After this time you may want to make some of the cuts wider.
Hints on finding a warm place:
You need a warm place, not a hot place. Chances are, room temperature will
be appropriate, but you may want to try any of the following suggestions
on unusually cold days in your home. Try continuously boiling a large pot
of water and placing the ring nearby. Or turn on the oven to heat the kitchen.
Do not put the ring in or directly on top of the oven, just nearby. In the
summer time, turn off the air conditioner.
Remove the plastic wrap and bake in an oven heated to 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. It will brown slightly, which is the look I prefer. However, you may also cover with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
Optional:
After cooling, brush lightly with water and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
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