Within the Lines

Bread Wreaths

I'm enjoying making bread wreaths for friends this Christmas.  Thought I'd share the fun...

First, I make a batch of bread dough in my bread maker.  (I always make my bread this way -- using the machine to make the dough, then shaping it by hand and cooking in the oven.  I don't like how it bakes in the machine.)  Anyway, when the dough cycle is finished, I take it out and divide in half.  Each half is treated as follows:

Roll out dough to roughly 24" by 12".

Cut lengthwise into 3 sections.  Drizzle melted butter down the middle of each.  (I melted approx. 2 Tbsp per wreath.)

In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon and brown sugar.  I have no idea the quantities.  Hmmm -- maybe 1/2 cup of each sugar and 1/2-1 tsp cinnamon ???  May also add dried fruit -- raisins, chopped apricot -- if desired.  Anyway, sprinkle this mixture on top of butter.  Won't necessarily use all you made; just use what's needed to cover fairly evenly.

Here I show the 3 stages of the wrapping process.  Fold the lower edge over the filling.  Moisten lightly with water where top will overlap; then lay top over bottom, pressing lightly to seal.  Seal ends with more dabs of water.  Flip over and you should have a nice sort of tube.

Nudge ends together and begin braiding.  I'm not good enough at description to put this process in words, so hopefully you know how to braid.

Braid to end.

Shape into circle, and carefully press ends together, matching middle to middle, right to right, left to left.  Won't necessarily be perfect but the dough is forgiving (and the glaze covers everything).

May be baked on a cookie sheet or baking stone, but I like to bake in my 9" pie plate to keep a nice circle (and to keep contained any leaking juices when baking).  Allow to raise to double.  Brush with a egg water (egg beaten w/tsp water), if desired, to add some shine.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or till golden brown.

(sorry, this picture was taken in the evening so different lighting made a different sort of reflection.)  Make a rather thin glaze of powdered sugar, a little milk, tbsp melted butter, and splash of vanilla, and drizzle over top following lines of braid.  Oh-- I forgot.  Because I wanted to keep my pie plates, I cut circles out of cardboard, covered them with tin foil and then had to go thru the process of inverting onto a plate, then onto the foil platter.  If you do this, make sure to do it while they're warm because cooled filling adheres the braid to the pan, and do it quickly so that loose filling doesn't run all over you, the counter, the floor, etc, etc.  (yes, this is personal experience)

Untitled Comment

{ 04:11, Tuesday, December 11, 2007 } { Posted by homesteadinthemaking }

They are beautiful and I can't wait to try this.
Blessings,
Trixi

Untitled Comment

{ 04:22, Tuesday, December 11, 2007 } { Posted by faithfarm }

Thank you! I am so happy! This is just what I needed for Christmas.