Greek Christmas Bread

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 3/4 cups fine sugar
• 12 3/4 cups flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces dried figs
• 2 ounces dried apricots
• 1 1/3 cups almonds
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup butter
• 2/3 cup golden raisin
• 3 tablespoons orange zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest

Recipe

• 1 preparation notes: melt the butter, chop the dried figs, chop the apricots and chop the almonds.
• 2 place yeast, 1 tsp sugar, 2 tbsp flour, salt and warm water into a small bowl. stir to dissolve the yeast and sugar. cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for about 15 - 20 minutes or until frothy.
• 3 in a large mixing bowl, beat together 4 eggs, the remaining sugar and the milk. stir in the frothy yeast mixture, 6 1/2 cuts of the remaining flour and the vanilla extract. stir in the melted butter then the remaining ingredients.
• 4 mix to form a stiff dough, then turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes (add remaining flour if needed). the dough should smooth and soft.
• 5 return the dough to the cleaned mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap. leave in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours or until doubled in size. turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough back to its original size. return to the bowl again, cover and leave in a warm place for another 30 minutes.
• 6 divide the dough into 6 equal portions. roll each portion into about a 12 inch rope and braid three of them together, molding the ends together to seal. repeat with the other three ropes and make another braid. place each braid o a lightly oiled cookie sheet, cover loosely with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for a final 40 minutes until the braid has risen.
• 7 preheat the oven to 350°f
• 8 beat the remaining egg in a small bowl and glaze the tops of both braids. bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden and hollow-sounding when tapped underneath. transfer to a wire rack to cool before serving.