Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake)

2 Cakes

INGREDIENTS:

2 (.25 Oz.) Packages Active Dry Yeast
1/4 Cup Warm Water
3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
3/4 Cup White Sugar
2 Eggs, Room Temperature
3 Egg Yolks
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Warm Milk
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Sour Cream, Room Temperature
4 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Melted
2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
3/8 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
3/8 Cup Honey
5/8 Cup Sliced Almonds
2 Cups Pastry Cream

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the yeast, and the warm water; set aside to proof for 5 minutes.

Cream 3/4 cup butter and sugar until light. Beat in the eggs and yolks one at a time. Add the vanilla, milk, sour cream, and yeast. Beat until smooth. Add the flour a little at a time to form a soft dough. Add all of the flour, and continue to beat until elastic, about 8 minutes. Place dough into an oiled bowl, cover and place in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 50 minutes. Can be placed in the refrigerator overnight instead.

Beat down the dough and divide into two pieces. Place each in a buttered 9-inch square pan. Brush the top of each with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter. Cover and let rise until doubled.

For the glaze, place the brown sugar, 6 tablespoons butter, cream and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Boil for 30 seconds. Remove from heat; add almonds. Let cool slightly. Drizzle the warm glaze, not hot over each of the cakes.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, or until the nuts are golden. Cool on a rack. Split the cakes lengthwise using a serrated knife, and fill with the pastry cream. Sandwich cakes back together and serve.