Holiday Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Oil a quarter sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of the oil and stretch out the bread dough to the edges. Allow the dough to rest and rise for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Brush the surface of the bread with another tablespoon of the olive oil. Decorate the bread with the tomatoes, olives, sage and rosemary, pressing them into the bread. Brush on the remaining olive oil; this will make it shiny and stop the vegetables burning. Sprinkle on the salt and Parmesan.
• Bake until it is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, orange zest and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk and oil until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened., Shape into a 6-in. round loaf on a greased baking sheet. Brush top with egg yolk; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cover top loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove from pan to a wire rack; serve warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Grease only the bottom of a 9x5 loaf pan (or three 5 3/4 x 3 1/4 inch loaf pans). In a large bow beat the eggs.
• Blend in sugar, eggnog, butter, rum extract and vanilla extract.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, walnuts, salt and nutmeg, stirring to combine.
• Mix into the eggnog mixture; stir just enough to moisten the dry ingredients.
• Pour the batter into pan(s).
• If baking bread in large pan, bake 40-60 minutes, or until a tester in the center comes out clean.
• If baking the breads in the smaller pans, bake 35-40 minutes.
• Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
• Cool breads completely, then wrap tightly. Keep in the refrigerator.

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.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in milk. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, lemon zest and cardamom. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add yeast mixture and whole egg; mix well. Stir in cherries, raisins and pecans. , 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 for 1 hour (dough will not double in size)., Punch dough down; divide into four pieces. Roll three pieces into 15-in. ropes. Braid ropes; place on a greased baking sheet. Divide last portion of dough in half; roll each into a 15-in. rope. Twist ropes. Press an indentation down the center of braided loaf; place twisted dough in indentation. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Beat egg yolk and water; brush over loaf. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Cover loosely with foil; bake 20-25 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack. Combine sugar and milk; drizzle over loaf. Decorate with cherries if desired.