Christmas Wreath Bread Recipes

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.

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.

HOLIDAY BREAD WREATH

Steps:

• Mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, the bread flour, salt, yeast and 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water (105 degrees F to 110 degrees F) in a large bowl with a wooden spoon to make a wet and sticky dough. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until almost tripled in size, 2 to 3 hours (the top will flatten and begin to sink in the center). Divide the dough in half and transfer one piece to another bowl. Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
• Put a pizza stone or inverted rimmed baking sheet on the highest oven rack and put a broiler pan on the lowest rack; preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, sprinkle each piece with 1/4 cup flour, then shape each into a smooth, taut ball. Cover the bowls loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Put a large piece of parchment paper on a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet and dust with flour. Using floured hands, pick up a ball of dough and poke your thumbs through the center to make a hole. Place on the parchment, then gently stretch the dough from the center to make a 9-inch-diameter ring with a 5-inch hole in the center. Sprinkle generously with flour. Lay out another sheet of parchment, dust with flour and repeat to shape the other ball of dough into a ring. Let rest, uncovered, 15 minutes.
• Holding kitchen shears at a 45 degrees F angle, make deep cuts at 1-to-1 1/2-inch intervals all the way around both dough rings, pulling the cut sections away from the center as you go to make "leaves." Let rest, uncovered, until plump, about 15 more minutes.
• Slide one dough wreath (on the parchment) directly onto the hot stone. Carefully pour 1 cup water into the broiler pan underneath to create steam; quickly shut the oven door. Bake until the bread is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Repeat with the second dough wreath, adding another cup of water to the broiler pan.

BRAIDED WREATH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, butter, 1 egg, orange zest, salt, extract and 1 cup flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; divide into thirds. Roll each portion into a 20-in. rope. Braid the ropes; shape into a wreath and pinch ends to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., For glaze, beat egg; lightly brush over dough. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool.

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.

CHRISTMAS WREATH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a tube pan with 2 layers of brown paper or parchment, and grease well.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in raisins, dates, cherries, pineapple, walnuts, and coconut. Stir until all fruit is coated.
• In another large bowl, cream the butter with the white sugar. Add lemon rind, lemon juice, and eggs; mix well. Stir in fruit mixture. Spread batter into prepared pan.
• Bake for 2 hours or until a tester comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.