*  Exported from  MasterCook II  *

                               Bear Claws

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 16   Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Yeast                            Breads
               State Fair

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                       Mrs. J. B. Robertson
  4      tablespoons   Sugar
  8      ounces        Maraschino cherries
  2      tablespoons   Butter or margarine -- melted
    3/4  cup           Pitted dates -- chopped
  1                    Egg yolk
    3/4  cup           Dark raisins
  2      tablespoons   Water
  1      tsp           Grated lemon peel
    1/3  c             Walnuts -- chopped
    1/2  c             Walnuts -- chopped
                       -----SWEET RICH DOUGH-----
    3/4  c             Milk
    1/2  c             Warm water
    1/2  c             Sugar
  2      pkg           Dry yeast
  2      tsp           Salt
  1                    Egg
    1/2  c             Butter or margarine
  4      c             Flour -- unsifted

Scald milk, stir in sugar, salt, butter and cool to lukewarm.  Combine
water and yeast in a large bowl, stir until dossolved.   Beat in milk
mixture and egg.  Add half the flour, beat until smooth.  Stir in
remaining flour to make a stiff batter.  Add more flour if necessary.
Cover tightly and refrigerate dough at least 2 hours.  It may be
refrigerated up to 3 days.  Divide dough in half.  On a lightly floured
roll out one half to a 9x18" rectangle.  Brush with half the melted
butter. sprinkle half the cherry mixture over dough, pat lightly. Starting
with an 18" edge, folk 1/3 of dough to center.  Then fold over remaining
1/3 of dough to make a 3-layer strip.  Pinch to seal edges.  cut each
strip into 8 sections. Make 4 slases through a cut edge of each section.
Place on a greased baking sheet, and shape into bear claws by separating
the slashes. Repeat using remaining dough and cherry mixture. Blend yolk
and water, brush onto rolls.
Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup nuts and 2 T sugar. Let rise about 10
minutes, and bake until golden brown. CHERRY MIXTURE: Make this recipe
while the Sweet Rich Dough is rising. Drain and chop cherries, drain again
on paper towels.  Combine chopped cherries, dates, raisins, lemon peel,
the 1/2 c walnuts, and 2 T sugar.


Source:  Prize Winning Recipes from The State Fair of Texas, 1976.


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