Christmas Tree Bread
- 12 cup chopped raisins
- 14 cup chopped candied cherry
- 14 cup chopped candied citron peel
- 13 cup sugar
- 13 cup boiling water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cups cake-and-pastry flour, sifted
- 2 12 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
- 12 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons shortening
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 13 cup 10% cream
- To make filling---------------.
- Combine raisins, cherries, citron, 1/3 cup sugar, boiling water and lemon juice in heavy saucepan Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved, and mixture has thickened somewhat.
- Cool.
- To make dough-------------------.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and 3 Tbsp sugar.
- Cut in the shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Add the lemon rind.
- Combine the beaten egg with the cream and add to the dry ingredients stirring lightly with a fork until all the flour is dampened.
- Turn the soft dough out on a floured board and kead for about 30 seconds.
- To make tree----------------.
- Cut a walnut sized piece from the dough and divide remaining dough in half and roll each half out into a tree shaped triangle.
- The rolled dough should be about 1/8 inch thick.
- Place one triangle on greased baking sheet.
- Spread filling over this triangle leaving a 1/4" border on all three sides.
- Moisten this edge.
- Lay second triangle over the first and press edges together to seal.
- With a sharp knife cut 4 slits on each side of the tree, cutting to within 1/2" of the centre.
- Twist the tips upward to look like branches and expose the filling.
- Roll the small piece of dough into a cylinder and place at the bottom of the tree to make the trunk.
- Bake in 400 F oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Cool slightly and frost with fondant or icing sugar glaze along the branches.
- Serve warm.
raisins, candied cherry, candied citron, sugar, boiling water, lemon juice, cake, doubleacting baking powder, salt, sugar, shortening, lemon rind, egg, cream
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/christmas-tree-bread-16104 (may not work)