Holiday Tree Bread

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 2/3 cup warm water (110u0b0 to 115u0b0)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 teaspoons cold butter
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts
• 2 teaspoons beaten egg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
• Candied red
• green cherries

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Beat in eggs, butter, brown sugar, salt and 1-1/2 cups flour until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. 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 until doubled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a bowl, cut butter into brown sugar until crumbly. Add nuts, egg, cinnamon and vanilla; stir well. Set aside. Punch dough down. Roll to 3/8-in. thickness; let stand for 5 minutes. Cut out 15 circles with a 3-in. round cutter. Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of each circle. Shape dough around filling to form a ball; pinch to seal. Line a
2. with foil; grease the foil. To form a tree, place one ball seam side down in the center near the top of the
3. . Place two balls 1/4 in. apart in the second row. Repeat with remaining balls, adding one to each row until the tree has five rows. For trunk, shape dough scraps into a rectangle and center under the last row. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 350u0b0 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla, salt and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over tree, forming garland. Decorate with cherries.

active dry yeast, warm water, eggs, butter, brown sugar, salt, flour, cold butter, brown sugar, nuts, beaten egg, ground cinnamon, vanilla, sugar, vanilla, salt, milk, candied red, green cherries

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/holiday-tree-bread/ (may not work)