Festive Fruit Wreath

By oakleyj

This make-ahead wreath is pretty enough to be the centerpiece of the breakfast buffet table.

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 pkg active dry yeast (or 1 Tbsp)
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 1/3 cups flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 2 Tbsp rum or orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups chopped candied fruit
• 1/2 cup currants
• Glaze:
• 1/4 cup icing sugar
• 2 Tbsp rum or orange juice

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

Dissolve 1 tsp sugar in warm water; sprinkle with yeast and let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy. In large bowl, beat together butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, and yeast mixture to make lumpy mixture. Combine floour, 1/4 cup sugar, salt and cinnamon; gradually stir into butter mixture until too stiff to handle. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface; knead for about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic, kneading in up to 3 Tbsp more flour if necessary. Place in lightly greased bowl, turning to grease all over. Cover with plastic wrap nd let rise in warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in bulk. Punch down dough. On lightly floured surface, roll out dough into 20 x 13 inch rectangle. Filling: In bowl, beat together egg white, icing sugar and rum; stir in fruit and currants. Spread over dough, leaving 1-inch border on one long side. Starting at other long side, tightly roll up jelly roll style, pinching seam to seal; cut into 19 slices. On greased pizza pan or baking sheet, overlap slices to form wreath with 12-inch outside diameter. Cover with cloth; let rise for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Bake in 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until sides sound hollow when tapped. Let cool slightly. (Wreath can be wrapped and frozen for up to 1 month. Let thaw at room temperature for 2 hours. Reheat, covered, in 325 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Glaze: Mix icing sugar with rum; brush over wreath. Serve waarm.