When Lynn, that would be CookieBakerLynn, called us to her kitchen table with the recipe for our December fun, I was in Seattle for Thanksgiving.   My mind flooded with filling ideas . . . no way to bake . . .  and I think I watched one Babe after another bake everyone of them.  

Yule Wreath

adapted from Betty Crocker's International Cookbook

1 package active dry yeast

(I used 2 teaspoons yeast)

1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 deg. F)

(I used 1/4 cup potato water)

3/4 cup lukewarm milk*

(I warmed the potato water & milk 30 seconds in the microwave)

1/4 cup sugar

(I used 1 tablespoon sugar)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1/2 tsp salt

3-1/4 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

(I used 2 cups AP flour +

1 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour)

1-Whisk together 2 cups flour, yeast, cardamom, sugar and salt.   Stir in milk, butter, egg,  Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

2-Turn dough onto lightly floured surface: knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.  (Mine took 2 1/2 hours)

3-Prepare Filling- Surprise!  I went savory.

Saute

3/4 pound Hot Italian Chicken Sausage

(I get mine at Whole Foods)

brown well & add

6 shallots sliced thin

for about a minute then top with

4 hands full spinach

stir until wilted

allow to cool

4- Punch down the dough. Roll into rectangle, 15 x 9-inches, on a lightly floured surface. Spread with the filling to within 1/4-inch of the edges. Roll up tightly, beginning at the wide side. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well. Stretch roll to make even. With sealed edge down, shape into ring on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Pinch ends together.

5- With scissors or kitchen shears, make cuts 2/3 of the way through the ring at 1-inch intervals. Turn each section on it's side (90 degree turn), to show off the pretty swirled filling. Cover loosely with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray. Let rise until double, about 40 to 50 minutes.  Mine took an hour.

6- Heat oven to 350 deg. F. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. (If it browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.)  Mine took 35 minutes

So, there you have it.  A lovely, tasty, festive wreath!

And to sum it all up, Lynn gave us the rules:  Now for the rules. Oh, right, this is the Babes, so there are no rules! Well, there is one stipulation. I really would like to see wreaths, but other than that, there is a lot of flexibility here. I know some of you tilt toward savory on the sweet/savory spectrum (Tanna, I'm looking at you here) and I would like you to feel free to substitute a less sweet dough and make it a savory creation. Maybe with a ham and scrambled eggs filling for breakfast? Or if almond is not your favorite flavor, make it a different flavor. Whatever you choose, I hope you have fun with it!

And indeed as you will see if you check out the rest of the BBB (list right there in the side bar) we did have fun with it.

This is a very lovely easy dough.  If you use the full tablespoon of yeast and have a warm house, I think this could be mixed and coming out of the oven in under four hours.  I believe this would work well retarding to dough in the refrigerator for the first rise and then shape and bake fresh in the morning.  That would fit especially well for a brunch.

I brought my sausage spinach wreath with us to my Dad’s for Christmas.  He was properly impressed with the looks and we all have been enjoying it.  I’ve loved cutting off two knobs of it, slicing it in two, toasting and finally toasting it with a slice of brie cheese on it.  It was perfectly heaven with a poached egg for breakfast.

When I get home, I want to do one and bake the brie cheese in with just spinach and maybe onions.  AND there’s going to be one filled with the leftover prune/fig cookie filling. 

It will make a wonderfully impressive bread for Christmas breakfast, New Years Eve or a New Years Day brunch!

So please join us and bake a wreath.  To be a Bread Baking Buddy with us check out Cookie Baker Lynn (Lynn).  If you choose not to bake this one, well you will have missed out on a wonder. 

Of course as soon as I get home on Friday the Daring Baker’s challenge awaits and I do believe this one is the definition of challenge.

Enjoy the holidays and spread good cheer.

Peace and Blessings for all.