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Holiday Breakfast Wreath - #twelveloaves

Holiday Breakfast Wreath

Whoa! Where did 2013 go? I don't know about you…but I'm not ready for any thing that has to do with the holidays. I'm not the best planner and most often work best under pressure. But when it comes to baking sweets for the holidays, I start my planning early! I couldn't wait to bake this holiday breakfast wreath for our #TwelveLoaves December.

My favorite time of year is baking at Christmas time. The kids really love to participate; especially with the Christmas cookies.

#TwelveLoaves December is dedicated to the Holidays!! Last December I shared this Christmas Stollen. Which is not a typical stollen. But delicious, nonetheless.  Some other Christmas breads I've baked and shared here:


Pandolce Genovese



Daring Baking's Challenge: Christmas Stollen

Finnish Pulla

and my Bundt Panettone (ok, it's not the traditional panettone...but it was wonderful and fun in a bundt pan!)

Holiday Breakfast Wreath

This bread is a recipe I found on the kitchn.  I love that site! I used my dough recipe that I use in many sweet bread recipes. The technique for this wreath is the same one used in this Estonian Kringle . I also used a similar technique for my Mexican Hot Chocolate Bread .I changed the filling around a little.  I used cherries (the kitchn uses cranberries in theirs). Next time I will use dried cranberries instead. It was the first thing my daughter asked when she took a bite..."mom, why didn't you use cranberries?"

Holiday Breakfast Wreath

*some baking notes: When I roll it out into a log, I then transfer it onto the parchment lined pan. I slice it in the middle and form my wreath. It really could use another set of hands to make it go a little smoother. It is not that neat while you are moving the pieces one over the other in a sort of twist. It may seem like all hope is lost when some filling parts fall out. You may throw up your hands and want to toss it out the window...but don't! It doesn't have to look completely perfect.

And somehow, when you feel you haven't done your best job...it turns out beautifully. The bread is rustic and gorgeous.

It's delicious and completely addictive. It's big enough to share some with your neighbors. I think the next time I bake it I will divide the dough in 1/2 and make two wreaths.

Looking for holiday bread inspirations? Here are some delicious ideas from the #TwelveLoaves bakers:

#TwelveLoaves-Holiday Breads. November was a delightful month of spice breads. December #TwelveLoaves is here and we are celebrating Holidays! Share your  December Holiday Bread (yeast or quick bread). Let's get baking!

#TwelveLoaves is a monthly bread baking party created by Lora from Savoring Italy.

Holiday Breakfast Wreath

by Savoring Italy
Prep Time: approx 2 hours
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes

Ingredients (1 wreath)
  • For the Dough:
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 (1/2 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 1/2-5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • For the Cherry-Almond Filling:
  • 1 cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries), soaked in 1/2 cup brandy or other liqueur
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely chopped blanched almonds
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon peel
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • To add on before baking:
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup almond slivers
  • 1 Tablespoon cinnamon-sugar
  • For the Sugar Glaze:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
dough directions:
Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to boil. Remove from heat and let stand until cooled to room temperature. Meanwhile, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a large bowl.
Add 1 Tablespoon of the sugar and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the remaining 2 Tablespoons of sugar, eggs and butter. Beat in cooled milk. Gradually add the flour and salt, scraping down side of bowl, until a soft dough forms.
Turn dough onto a floured work surface and knead the remaining flour into the dough, adding more flour if too sticky. Knead for about 10 minutes until smooth. The dough will be soft.
Grease a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spray a muffin tin with baking spray; set aside.
Drain the cherries from the liqueur. In a food processor, pulse together the fillings ingredients (except for the cherries). When finished pulsing, dump ingredients into a bowl. Stir gently the cherries into the filling; set aside.
Punch down the dough.
Dump the dough out onto a floured surface, roll the dough into a 9- by 30-inch rectangle. Spread the filling over the dough to leaving a 1-inch border on all the sides.
Brush the borders with water. Tightly roll the dough into log, rolling toward the clean border; pinch the seam to seal.
Cut the ends of (I ended up with 5 small rolls).
Place the ends in the muffin tin (or a small loaf pan sprayed with baking spray).
Place roll seam-side down on the baking sheet. Cut the log in half lengthwise with a chef's knife.
Twist the two halves together, crossing one over the other a few times. Pinch the end together, then tuck both pinched ends under the loaf slightly. From the twists into a wreath.
Cover the wreath loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until plump, 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Uncover the wreath and brush with melted butter (do same with the small rolls).
Toss on the almond slivers and sprinkle on cinnamon sugar.
Bake the bread, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until golden brown (a thermometer inserted into the middle should register 170 degrees F to 175 degrees F), 30 to 35 minutes. (check the rolls as they may be done a few minutes before)If you have any butter left, brush some on the bread hot of the oven and sprinkle on more cinnamon-sugar mixture. While the bread is baking, combine the glaze ingredients; set aside.
Carefully transfer the wreath to a serving plate. Drizzle on the glaze.
*This can be prepared 2 days ahead of time (if you can resist eating it!). After baking wreath, cool completely and wrap it tightly and carefully in foil paper. Store at room temperature then re-heat at 350° for 10-15 minutes. Drizzle on the glaze…enjoy!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Johlene says

    Hi Lora! This looks amazing, I have to try to make this during the Xmas Season 🙂 🙂

    Reply

  2. Stollen Recipe | Magnolia Days says

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  3. Liz says

    Wow, what an incredible loaf!!! This is the way to start a holiday!!! xo

    Reply

  4. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says

    I'm moving in two weeks, and this is the perfect bread to bake and use my frozen cherries! Wouldn't want to throw those out, lol. I just ADORE braids with fruits and nuts and spices! This is gorgeous Lora!

    Reply

  5. Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says

    omg, LOVE! I'm totally going to make this too!!! looks delicious!!! and I'm so sorry for completely missing this month! the time slipped away with my folks being here for the holidays. . definitely will be back with the Twelve Loaves group next month!

    Reply

  6. Renee - Kudos Kitchen says

    What a gorgeous holiday wreath! So festive and yummy!

    Reply

  7. Bakingyummies says

    Beautiful looking bread and I'm sure it tastes good too especially with that glaze!

    Reply

  8. Bunkycooks says

    Are you baking this again? About the middle of the month?! 😉 Gorgeous as always!

    Reply

  9. Holly says

    So pretty! I love the wreath idea and hope to make a bread wreath before the month is over. How did December sneak up so quickly?

    Reply

  10. Carolyn says

    That is so gorgeous, Lora. I can't eat it, but I can admire it! And I am with you...where has the time gone?

    Reply

  11. Laura Dembowski says

    So beautiful! Love the flavors too!

    Reply

  12. Renee says

    I could not agree more on how gorgeous this bread wreath is and it is so tempting too. Tempting to make and eat.
    Thanks for a great year of Twelve Loaves. It's been such fun and I can't wait to see the breads that are shared next year.

    Reply

  13. Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says

    Lora, that looks so perfect. Amazing how yeasty dough is so forgiving (with the exception of baguettes, at least for me!). I love the photo of the little hand taking a piece. I may have to steal that. =)

    Reply

  14. Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Rolls #TwelveLoaves December | tryanythingonceculinary.com says

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  15. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    So gorgeous, Lora! I'd love this wreath for breakfast on Christmas morning :).

    Reply

  16. Monet says

    Wreaths are so pretty...and so delicious too. I can't believe we're nearing 2014 either Lora! Thank you for sharing. Just lovely!

    Reply

  17. Cranberry and White Chocolate Sweet Rolls | "blackberry-eating in late September" says

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  18. anna @ annamayeveryday says

    Doesn't that look fabulous, I would love to make that for Christmas!

    Reply

  19. Jamie says

    Oh, Lora, this wreath is beautiful! I've never been able to get mine to look as pretty but now you know I will be making this recipe and doing it like you do. Beautiful! I love the little hand taking a slice 🙂 I am betting that your holidays are filled to bursting with wonderful treats!
    xo

    Reply

  20. Paula says

    That is one big, beautiful, baked wreath! Your home must have smelled divine when this was baking. Love the shot of the little hand taking a slice!

    Reply

  21. foodwanderings says

    Sheesh Lora, I wish you lived next door. This wreath is so tempting I wish I had it with my early cup of tea just now. 🙂

    Reply

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  23. Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says

    Messy-beautiful, Lora! Just the way a good yeasted coffee cake should be. 🙂 Love that shot of the little hand grabbing a slice. Your children are very lucky to have a sweet mom like you to bake with during the holidays. You are making their memories! Thanks for sharing, girl. Pinning! xo

    Reply

  24. Rosa says

    What a gorgeous wreath! Very tempting. This is a great Xmas treat.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

  25. Krista Low says

    Darlin'! This bread is absolutely gorgeous. I love the rustic feel of this and I am totally in love with the almonds! Cranberries are a huge hit at my house too so I will take you up on your suggestion to use those 🙂 Thanks for another fabulous recipe!

    Reply

  26. Stollen Wreath-#TwelveLoaves — Cake Duchess says

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