Holiday and Special Occasions: Christmas: Festive Fruit Bread

Serve up this delicious bread or wrap as a gift for family and friends over the festive season.

Author: CalorieKing
Date: December 26, 2012

Suggestions: As a food gift, package and tie with a bow!

Serves: 22 person(s)
Yield: 22 x slices (1 loaf)

Preparation Time: 30 mins
Cooking Time: 40 mins
Extra Time: 1 hrs 45 mins (for standing)

Ingredients:

1 oz fresh yeast, crumbled or 1 sachet dried yeast
1 cup nonfat milk, warm
1 tsp sugar
3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp sugar substitute
1 tsp mixed spice
1/3 cup mixed peel
1/2 cup currants
2 Tbsp reduced-fat margarine or buttery spread, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 egg, extra
1 Tbsp nonfat milk, extra
1 Tbsp flaked almonds
2 tsp mixed peel, extra

Directions:

Combine yeast, 1 cup milk and a teaspoon each of sugar and flour in a small bowl. Stand in a warm place until the mixture becomes frothy, about one hour.

Sift remaining flour, sugar substitute and spice into a large bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup peel and currants.

Combine margarine and 2 lightly beaten eggs with yeast mixture and pour into flour. Mix to soft dough. Transfer to floured board and knead for 5 to 10 minutes or until smooth and the dough springs back when pressed.

Spray a bowl with cooking spray, place the dough inside and cover with a damp tea towel and rest in a warm place for 45 minutes.

Punch down dough and knead until smooth. Divide mixture into three pieces and roll each into a long strand. Braid strands together and bring ends together to form a ring. Spray a baking tray with cooking spray and place loaf on the tray.

Lightly beat the extra egg and mix with 1 tablespoon milk. Brush this glaze over the top of loaf. Sprinkle with almonds and the extra peel. Bake in a moderate 350ºF oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.