Polish St. Martin's Day Croissants (Marcinki)

Make the Dough

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast (equivalent to a 1/4-ounce packet of yeast), 1 cup lukewarm milk, and 1 tablespoon sugar until yeast has dissolved.

2. Add 3 large room-temperature beaten egg yolks, 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 4 ounces melted lukewarm butter to bowl and mix. Add 4 cups flour and knead thoroughly until dough is smooth and starts to blister, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled.

3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide in half. Working with one dough half at a time, roll each into a 1/4-inch-thick circle. Using a pizza wheel or non-serrated pastry cutter, cut into 8 pie-shaped wedges.

Assemble and Bake the Croissants

1. In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine poppy seed and almond fillings. Place 1 tablespoon filling at the wide edge of each triangle of rolled-out dough and roll away from you. Form rolled-up triangle of dough into a crescent shape and place, point side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining triangles.

2. Repeat with remaining half of dough. Cover with greased plastic and let crescents rise until doubled.

3. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake crescents about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.

Make the Glaze

1. In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough water to make a runny glaze. Frost crescents and sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds. Great with hot tea or coffee.