Rich Fruit Bread

Fill your home with the cinnamon-rich aroma of the holidays with this festive holiday bread.This Rich Holiday Fruit Bread looks amazing!

¼ cup melted butter or margarine
1¾ cups milk
¼ cup sugar
1 package (2¼ tsp, ¼oz, 7g) Active Dry Yeast
1 tsp salt
4 cups bread flour
1 tsp cinnamon
⅔ cup mixed candied fruit
¼ cup currants
¼ cup raisins

• In a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter or margarine. 
• Add the milk and heat just until 110°-115°F.
• In a large bowl add the milk mixture, sugar, salt and Yeast. 
• Beat with a wire whisk until smooth. 
• Add 2 cups of flour, cinnamon, candied fruit, currants and raisins. 
• Again beat until smooth. 
• Sprinkle one more cup of flour over top, work in with a wooden spoon until all absorbed.
• Gradually add the last cup of flour by hand, pressing flour into dough and turning dough over, until all worked in.
• Place dough in lightly oiled bowl and turn to grease top. 
• Cover; let rise until dough tests ripe.
• Punch dough down and place on a floured surface. 
• With fingers press out to a square about 1-inch thick. 
• Cut in half.
• Oil two 9x5x2-inch loaf pans. 
• Roll up one half of dough and pinch seams together. 
• Do the same with the second half. 
• Place seam side down in loaf pans. 
• Cover and let rise until indentation remains after touching.
• Preheat oven and bake at 375°F for 25 - 30 minutes. 
• Remove from pans and cool on racks.
• If desired, while bread is still warm make a glaze of ½ cup icing sugar mixed with 1 TBSP milk. Drizzle over tops.

Recipe: Yesterfood