Festive Sweet Dough Christmas Wreaths

This is a great idea for a Christmas gift or to bring to a Christmas party. I make several of these each year with different fillings. Sometimes I mix candied peel right in with my flour at the very start. Use your imagination when it comes to filling and decorating your wreath…anything goes :).

Directions:

Yield: 2 loaves

1. Place the flour, yeast, honey and shortening in a large mixing bowl. Mix together.
2. Heat the milk in the microwave. Add the milk, should be approximately 100°F when you add it to the flour mixture, and mix lightly.
3. Add the eggs and mix together.
4. Add a cup of flour and mix. Add another cup of flour and the salt and mix.
5. Dump the bread dough on to your kneading surface and work in the rest of the flour by hand.
6. Knead the bread for approximately 15 minutes or until the bread dough has reached a nice smooth texture. Use the window pane test if you are unsure.
7. Lightly grease a large bowl with shortening. Place the kneaded dough into the bowl in a warm area and let rise until double in size. Approximately 1 hour and a half.
8. Once the dough has doubled in size, push the dough down. It will only take half of the dough to make a wreath, so at this point we are going to split the dough in half. Take the half of dough and split into three even pieces. To see instructions on how to braid these pieces together and fill the wreath, watch the video below.
9. Lightly grease a pizza pan with shortening, then place a piece of parchment paper on the pan. Shape the braided loaf into a wreath. Let it rise until double in size, approximately 1 hour.
10. Cook in the oven on the center rack at 400°F, for approximately 20-30 mins.
11. If you want to decorate the loaf and top with a nice glaze, watch the video below for instructions.

ENJOY!!!