Swiss Christmas Bread

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup halved candied cherries
• 1/4 cup candied citron peel
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon white sugar

Recipe

• in a saucepan, heat milk, water, and butter or margarine until warm.
• in large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, nutmeg, mace, and cloves; mix well. stir in warm milk mixture and egg. blend with an electric mixer at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. by hand, stir in raisins, cherries, citron, nuts, and enough remaining flour to make a firm dough.
• knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, 5 to 8 minutes. place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. cover. let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• punch dough down. shape into a round loaf, and place in a greased 2 quart casserole. cover, and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. brush top of loaf with melted butter, and sprinkle lightly with 1 teaspoon sugar.
• bake at 375 degrees f ( 190 degrees c) for 40 to 45 minutes, until deep golden brown. if too dark, cover loosely with foil last 5 to 10 minutes of baking. cool.