Holiday Bread Wreath Recipes

CHRISTMAS WREATH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the butter, milk powder, sugar, egg, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with chopped almonds and cinnamon to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal., Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. With scissors, cut from outside edge to two-thirds of the way toward center of ring at 1-in. intervals. Separate strips slightly; twist to allow filling to show. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Combine confectioners' sugar, water and extract; drizzle over warm bread.

CHRISTMAS BREAD WREATH

Steps:

• Grease cookie sheet. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the cheese onto flat surface. Roll bread dough in cheese into 24-inch rope. Place on cookie sheet, forming circle; pinch ends to seal.
• Snip dough 16 times from the outer edge of the circle at about 1 1/2-inch intervals, cutting two-thirds of the way through, using kitchen scissors. Lift and turn every other section of dough toward the center of the circle pinching ends, so the dough resembles branches if desired.
• Cover and let rise in warm place 1 to 2 hours or until double. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)
• Heat oven to 350°F. Mix oil and garlic; brush over dough. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons cheese. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

CRANBERRY-ALMOND HOLIDAY WREATH BREAD

Steps:

• 1.
• Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a large bowl; stir briefly.
• Let stand until foamy (about 5 minutes).
• Stir in milk, sugar, butter, salt, cardamom, eggs, and lemon peel.
• Using electric mixer (with a paddle attachment if you have one) or a heavy spoon, add 2 cups of the flour, 1 cup at a time, beating well after addition.
• Then eat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
• Add 1 1/4 cups more flour; beat until combined.
• Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth (5 to 10 minutes) adding more flour as needed to prevent sticking.
• Place in a greased bowl; turn over to grease top.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours).
• Meanwhile, prepare filling.
• In a medium-size bowl, combine butter,flour and sugar.
• Beat until smooth.
• Stir in almonds, dried cranberries, lemon peep, and almond extract.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• Punch doubled dough down and knead briefly on a lightly floured board to release ari.
• Roll into a 9- by 30-inch rectangle.
• Crumble filling dough to within 1 inch of edges.
• Beginning at long side, tightly roll up dough, pinching edge against loaf to seal.
• With a sharp knife, cut roll in half lengthwise, carefully turn cut sides up.
• Loosely twist ropes around each other, keeping cut side up.
• Transfer to a greased and floured baking sheet and shape into a 10-inch ring, pinching ends together to seal.
• Let rise, uncovered, in a warm place until puffy (45 to 60 minutes).
• Bake in a 375°F oven until lightly browned (about 20 minutes).
• Transfer to a rack and let cool briefly.
• Meanwhile, prepare sugar glaze.
• In a small bow, combine powdered sugar, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon water; stir until smooth.
• Drizzle over warm bread.