Danish delight: Tim Anderson’s cherry marzipan kringle recipe for Thanksgiving
Kringles are a kind of pastry that’s synonymous with my home town of Racine, Wisconsin,Originally introduced by Danish immigrants in the late 19th century, they’re essentially a big ring of flaky Viennese pastry filled with fruit or nuts, then iced and served in little slices,Even bad kringles are pretty delicious, and when out-of-towners try them for the first time, their reaction is usually: ”Where has this been all my life?”We eat kringles year-round, but I mainly associate them with fall, perhaps because of their common autumnal fillings such as apple or cranberry, or perhaps because of the sense of hygge they provide,I also associate kringles with Thanksgiving – and with uncles,And I don’t think it’s just me; Racine’s biggest kringle baker, O&H Danish Bakery, operates a cafe/shop called “Danish Uncle”.
But I also think of Thanksgiving as the most uncle-y American holiday, geared towards watching football and snoozing on the couch,On Thanksgiving, you get together with your uncles (who all have strong, reliable uncle names such as Steve, Bob and Mike), and you talk about kringles, because you can’t talk about feelings or politics,Kringles are naturally convivial and conversational; Racinians will never eat kringle without debating the merits of various local bakeries (for the record: I’m a Bendtsen’s man until I die),Maybe the conversation never gets that deep with your uncles; maybe you can’t tell them that you love them, or even give them a hug that isn’t unnatural and awkward,But that’s OK, you can give them kringle instead.
Serves 8-10220g lukewarm milk 25g caster sugar 7g sachet dried yeast 1 tsp salt 200g strong white bread flour 160g plain flour 40g plain wholemeal flour 200g cold unsalted butter 230g marzipan 100g sour cherry jam or compote Beaten egg, to glazeIcing sugarIn a large bowl, combine the lukewarm milk, caster sugar, dried yeast, and a teaspoon of salt, then whisk to dissolve the ingredients into the milk.In a second bowl, mix the flours.Tip the flours into the milk mix, then stir with a spatula until everything comes together into a dough.Knead in the bowl until the dough has an even texture, without any dry or sticky patches, then cover loosely and leave to prove for one hour.Make a butter block by cutting the cold butter into 12 slices, then tiling them into a rectangle along a length of baking paper, two by six slices of butter across.
Fold the paper over the top of the butter like an envelope, then use a rolling pin to flatten the butter and press the edges of each slice together, to make a thin, solid block about 14cm x 32cm,Keep the butter wrapped in the paper, and transfer to the fridge,Roll the risen dough into a large roughly 16cm x 70cm rectangle,Peel the paper off the butter block, then put the butter block in the centre of the dough,Fold the sides of the pastry up over the top and press down on the edges to enclose the butter.
Fold the dough in by thirds (like you would a letter) to make three layers of butter, then put in a container and chill for 30 minutes.Rotate the dough into a landscape position, then roll it into a 30cm x 20cm rectangle.Fold into thirds again, then return to the fridge for another 30 minutes.Repeat this process once more, chilling again for 30 minutes.Cut the marzipan into thin slices about 2mm thick.
Cut the dough lengthways into two long rectangles, then roll each piece to 16cm x 70cm.Spoon the cherry jam or compote in a line down the centre of the dough, then lay half of the marzipan in a single layer on top of the jam.Fold the far edge of dough towards you and over the filling, and then fold the near edge of dough over the top of that, and pinch to seal.Curl the line of dough round to make a ring, tucking one end into the other.Repeat the process to make a second kringle.
Carefully transfer the rings to two trays lined with baking paper, brush the surface of each with beaten egg, then bake at 210C (190C fan)/410F/gas 6½ for 22 minutes, until well browned.Leave to cool, then flatten each kringle by laying another tray on to the surface and pressing down firmly.Drizzle with thick icing made with icing sugar and water, and leave to set before slicing and serving.Tim Anderson is the author of the 24 Hour Pancake People newsletter and Hokkaido: Recipes from the Seas, Fields and Farmlands of Northern Japan, published by Hardie Grant at £28.To order a copy for £25.
20, go to guardianbookshop,com,Rachel Roddy is away,
England plan extra training sessions in wake of howling first Ashes Test defeat
A week of inactivity for England’s cricketers will end on Saturday following confirmation of additional training sessions having been scheduled in the wake of their howling eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Ashes Test.As reported by the Guardian on Monday, head coach Brendon McCullum has booked extra time in the nets ahead of the day-night second Test that starts in Brisbane on 4 December rather than send any first team players to the two-day England Lions match in Canberra this weekend.The first session takes place at Allan Border Field on Saturday morning, before switching to the facilities at the Gabba from Sunday onwards. Two of the sessions – Monday and Wednesday – will take place after dark so players can get used to seeing the pink Kookaburra ball under lights.It represents a break from England’s usual pattern of training three days before a Test match
Molly McCann: ‘I’m a scouse female gay athlete who supports Everton – it’s like my cards are marked already’
Britain’s most successful female UFC fighter on knowing when to stand her ground, why she won’t box in Saudi Arabia and aiming to win a world title in the next year“I give my hidings and I take my hidings and so they have seen me with snapped ligaments in my knee, broken feet, broken toes, broken hands, stitches, broken legs,” Molly McCann says of the damage she has endured as a fighter and the impact it has had on her mum and her partner, Fran Parman. “It’s traumatic for Fran and even more traumatic for my mum. I’m 35 and I’ve been in the gym since I was 12. I had my first fight at 16. I’ve spent most of my life fighting
Players warned not to sign IPL-style Hundred deals in standoff with owners
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has advised players not to sign Hundred contracts for next season amid a dispute with the new franchise owners over their terms.In a supplementary process to the new Indian Premier League-style auction that will take place next year, Hundred teams are permitted to make four direct signings, including one from their existing squad and three others, either overseas players or a player with an England central contract.The direct-signing window opened last week, but the players’ union is understood to have told its members to hold off signing because of a standoff over the new multiyear contracts.The Guardian has learned that the new franchise owners – four of whom also own Indian Premier League teams – have included a unilateral 12-month release clause in the three-year deals they are offering to direct signings, which the PCA is contesting. Such contracts would offer no security to the players, as well as keeping them on the same salary for three years even if they enjoyed a stellar first season
Wallabies’ 2026 schedule brings hope but also potential for bigger headaches | Angus Fontaine
After losing seven of their last eight Tests in 2025 and completing the first winless tour of Europe since 1958, the Wallabies are back home nursing a giant hangover. Unfortunately, the 2026 season unveiled this week looks likely to prolong the pain.Having watched their team end the year in a blur of yellow cards, wobbly lineouts, aerial ineptitude and headless chook footy, fans will be aghast to find only six of Australia’s 14 Tests will be played at home in 2026 – the first three against nations who defeated them only this month. The new year only brings bigger headaches.The worst of them, like all hangovers, is self-inflicted: an awkward handover of national coaching duties between Joe Schmidt and Les Kiss following home Tests against Ireland in Sydney, France in Brisbane and Italy at a still to be confirmed location, and midway through the inaugural north-south face-off, the Nations Championship
Perth pitch not the problem for England in first Ashes Test as it receives highest ICC rating
England only have themselves to blame for their two-day capitulation in Perth, after the pitch for the first Ashes Test received the top rating possible by the International Cricket Council.The “very good” assessment by the ICC match referee was made on a pitch with “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match, allowing for a balanced contest between batters and bowlers”.Australia defeated England in the first Test in Perth by eight wickets in under two days.The tourists were well placed on day two with a lead of more than 100 runs with nine wickets in hand. However, a middle-order collapse ended their innings in fewer than 35 overs, and within hours Travis Head had guided Australia to victory
Tuilagi could face England with Samoa while Marchant return is boon for Borthwick
Manu Tuilagi has refused to rule out playing for Samoa at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, leaving open the possibility of him facing Steve Borthwick’s England in Australia.The 34-year-old, who spearheaded the Red Rose midfield for more than a decade, would qualify for the Pacific Island nation in 2027 under eligibility rules introduced four years ago.Borthwick, who has overseen 11 straight wins, has been boosted by news that Joe Marchant will join Sale from Stade Français next season. The 29-year-old former Harlequin has 26 England caps and has signed a long-term deal from 2026-27 and will now be eligible again for international duty.At the launch of the 2025-26 Champions Cup, Tuilagi was asked about potential involvement in the World Cup after Samoa emerged victorious from the qualifying tournament in Dubai earlier this month
Debenhams boss could receive almost £150m if he turns around struggling retailer
Economists warn budget built on ‘shaky foundations’; December UK interest rate cut looks more likely – business live
Foreign interference or opportunistic grifting: why are so many pro-Trump X accounts based in Asia?
London councils enact emergency plans after three hit by cyber-attack
Lando Norris insists nothing has changed in title fight after Vegas shambles
AFLW clubs’ lack of ambition laid bare by 2025 grand final deja vu | Jack Snape