Brioche (Almond Paste Bread or Marzipan Bread)

Yield: one coffee cake

Ingredients

• 1 package dry yeast
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 4 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup almond paste
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup fine chopped roasted almonds
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Cream butter with 1/4 cup sugar and salt; dissolve yeast in warm water. Add a pinch of sugar; let stand until bubbly.
2. Add milk, yeast, eggs and flour to creamed mixture; mix well. Cover and let rise in warm place for 2 hours or until mixture doubles.
3. Meanwhile, combine almond paste and almond extract and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar; set aside.
4. Generously butter a tube pan; sprinkle with chopped almonds and 1 tablespoon sugar.
5. Stir dough down and place 1/3 into prepared tube pan, building up around tube.
6. Sprinkle with 1/2 of almond mixture.
7. Repeat, ending with dough.
8. Seal edges of dough to pan with floured hands.
9. Bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Remove from pan; cool.