Aunt Pauline's Blueberry Coffee Ring

Basic Dough:
1 package dry yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons shortening
1 egg

Blueberry Filling:
2 to 3 cups fresh NC blueberries
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar

Cream Cheese Glaze (recipe follows)

Combine in a saucepan and cook on low heat until boiling, about 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Add sugar, shortening, egg, salt and half of the flour. Beat at a low speed with mixer until smooth. Stir in remaining flour. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Punch dough down and turn out on a floured surface and knead 4 or 5 times. Roll dough into a 21 x 7 rectangle. Top with blueberry filling.

Roll up dough in jellyroll fashion. Place roll on a large greased baking sheet seam down. Shape into ring. Using kitchen shears, make cuts into dough, cutting 3/4 of the way through about 1-inch apart. Turn each piece of dough on its side. Cover ring and let rise 45 more minutes.

Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and cool.

Cream Cheese Glaze:
Mix 3 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 stick of butter, 1/2 box powdered sugar, 4 to 5 tablespoons milk. Drizzle glaze on top of coffee ring.

Source: North Carolina Department of Agriculture