… you know how when you’re feeling poorly you can’t remember what’s it’s like to be well and when you’re feeling fine it’s hard to quite grasp that feeling of illness… well I think Christmas is a little like that. All year long you’re either loathing or really looking forward to it because Christmas has this kind of magic mysticism to it but then once it’s here – which seems to happen earlier and earlier each year – it’s like being gripped with an illness that you can’t seem to shake… running around like a fool… spending more money than you can afford… dreading the big day and then boom, it’s all over and you can’t quite remember what all the fuss was about, leaving you juts about well enough to start dreading the new year!
cinnamon and cranberry festive 4 plait loaf
if like me you’re not so bothered about a christmas cake or christmas pudding but are still keen to savour that christmas taste then try this super-easy sweet bread. It’s not quite a stollen but it has all the christmassy spices and sticky goodness without being heavy or sickly. I’ve thrown in some cranberries, apricots and sultana’s but you can grab any kind of dried fruit for this. The plaiting is super easy and I followed this excellent video which was very informative. I made the decision to put the plait into a cold oven which is a slow-baking technique i’ve used before which usually adds a gentle rise to the loaf but it doesn’t seem to have worked here… plus I think my oven was a little too hot as it’s very dark in some places although to be honest it doesn’t taste burnt so mate it’s simply the huge amounts of sugar that have caramelised… so just a little warning when baking…
for the dough
450g plain flour
75g golden caster sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 sachets of fast action dried yeast
75g butter – melted
200g milk
1 egg – beaten
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
100g mixed dried fruit – i used cranberries, chopped apricots, chopped dates and sultanas
1 tablespoon honey – warmed
sift the flour into a large bowl and add the dried fruit, sugar, salt, spices and yeast. Gently melt the butter then add it to the milk and beaten egg and pour it into the flour. Bring it together (I use a rubber spatula) and then once combined use your hands. It will be sticky and look a little ragged.
tip it out onto a floured surface and oil the bowl. Knead the dough for a few minutes until the surface becomes smooth and the while dough becomes a little drier. Place it back into the bowl, cover with a tea towel and allow it to rise for at least 1 hour or until doubled in size… because it’s so packed with sugar and fruit it may take longer than a regular loaf of bread to rise
flour your surface and divide the dough into 4 equal portions, roll these into long sausages and plait into a loaf (see video above)
set aside covered in a little oiled cling film for about 30 minutes
place in an oven, switch it on to 200C and let it bake until the oven reaches temperature, then reduce the temp to 180C and bake for a further 25 mins – set aside to cool
as it’s cooling brush liberally with honey and sprinkle with pretty christmas colours
eat and of course, enjoy and a very merry christmas to you all!
Mmm any kind of enriched bread is good in my book. This looks lush, Dom! I'm trying to be very hands off as far as Christmas is concerned, but it's not working. Mind you, I think the madness bit has passed and I'm looking forward to some time at home with the family now.
I love Christmas Cake and Christmas puddings, but could definitely add this to my list too, it sounds delicious.
That looks amazing Dom and as a Christmas lover, can I have that AND the cake and pudding too please? Karen xxx
Thanks Sally… enjoy your chrimbo!
all three sounds good! X
Thanks Karen… go on then, you can have all three
That looks great – when are we going to see you on the Great British Bake Off?!
Thanks Caroline… Not sure I could do it!! No patience.
I like bread “Well Done”, so that extra-dark loaf would suit me well. I reckon your loaf would be nice dunked in some dessert wine!
You've described the feeling to a tee 🙂 Beautiful sweet bread and a very Merry Christmas to you, Dominic!
Risen or not, it looks delicious. I love a slightly tighter dough and this one looks almost pannetone-like. I can almost smell the spices as I look at the pics. Have a fantastic Christmas Dom x
Such a pretty bread, I know you are not around, but hope you have had a great time in the sun.
If I don't get the chance
Happy new year to you
Jxxxx
Happy New Year, Dom!
Your blog is inspirational and I love the recipes. I have made a few of them and enjoyed fantasising about making lots of the others!
I know what you mean about Christmas. Everybody loves it really but few of us can stand the spending and celebrating frenzy that goes with it these days.
Personally I love both Christmas cake and pudding but there's always room for something different, like this loaf, which looks fabulous.
Nice work Dominic, this is the kind of bread I like the most.