Description
A festive recipe for Holiday Sweet Bread with Dried Fruits, perfect for celebrating the season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed to about 110°F
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, cranberries, and apricots)
- ½ cup chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, instant yeast, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well to combine the dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the warmed milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Add the dried fruits and chopped nuts, and knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and shape it into a loaf. Place the loaf in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Cover the loaf with the towel again and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, until it has risen above the rim of the pan.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the additional egg and brush it over the top of the loaf for a shiny finish.
- Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- For a spicier flavor, add ½ teaspoon of ground ginger or allspice to the dry ingredients.
- Substitute the dried fruits with chocolate chips or fresh berries for a different twist on this sweet bread.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Holiday Sweet Bread with Dried Fruits, festive bread, sweet bread recipe