Holiday Bread Food

30 BEST CHRISTMAS BREADS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a Christmas bread in 30 minutes or less!

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.

HOLIDAY BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly grease a 5 x 9-inch loaf pan.
• Sift the flour, measure, and sift with the baking powder and salt onto a piee of waxed paper. Add the nuts, raisins and candied fruits, and mix until well coated with the flour.
• Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time until lthik and pale-lemon colored. Alternate additions of flour and fruit mixture and the mashed bananas, stirring after each addition until well blended. Begin and end with flour mixture.
• Spoon into prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven for about 60 minutrs or until bread pulls away from the sides of the pan.
• Let cool about 20 minutes before turning out on a rack to cool well.

SWEET NUT HOLIDAY BREAD WREATH

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine yeast and warm water. Let it sit for a couple minutes or until it starts to bubble. Mix on low and add the milk, sugar, butter, salt, cinnamon, and eggs. Add two cups of the flour, one cup at a time. Beat for 2 minutes. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough is soft and workable and comes away from the side. (Note: You may not need it all depending on the time of year and level of humidity.)
• Oil a large bowl and set aside. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes or until smooth. Place in the oiled bowl, turning once to oil both sides. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled (about 90 minutes). Prepare filling while dough rises.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, combine filling ingredients. Cook until thick. Remove from the stove. If filling gets too thick, stir in additional water.
• When the dough has doubled in size, lightly flour a working surface and roll out into a 9×30 rectangle. Spread filling onto the dough within one inch of the edges. Roll the dough tightly starting from the long edge, pinching the ends to seal. With a sharp knife, cut the roll in half lengthwise. Carefully turn the halves so the cut sides face up and then loosely twist the halves around each other, keeping cut sides up. Julie starts from the middle and works up and then down.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment or non-stick baking mat. Carefully transfer the rope to the baking sheet and shape into a circle. Tuck the ends together. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and then a kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place until puffy (about 45 minutes).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the wreath until lightly browned (20-25 minutes). Cool completely on a cooling rack.
• Drizzle glaze over the wreath once cooled or before serving if bread was made ahead of time.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

HOLIDAY SEASON CRANBERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and soda into large bowl and set aside.
• Add 2 tablespoons melted butter to 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice.
• Add beaten egg to orange mixture and add to dry ingredients.
• Mix until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Stir in chopped nuts and cranberries.
• Turn into (greased and floured) 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes to 1 hour.
• Let stand 24 hours before slicing.
• This recipe freezes very well - I usually wrap first in Saran Wrap, then wrap it in aluminum foil and then place in zip-lock bags - I generally take out of the freezer the night before serving, if possible.
• Delicious plain or with butter or cream cheese spread on it.

HOLIDAY BREAD

Steps:

• In a bread machine pan, place all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. , Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).

HOLIDAY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, blend well.
• Mixture should be moist, but not soupy.
• Pour into a buttered 9 x12 baking dish.
• Place into a non preheated oven.
• Bake 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until top is golden brown.
• Serve warm.