CHRISTMAS SURPRISE BREAD BUNDLES RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Christmas Surprise Bread Bundles Recipe - (4.6/5) image

Provided by jolofson

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F.)
1/2 cup (1/4 pound) butter or margarine
1/2 cup half-and-half (light cream) or milk
3 tablespoons sugar (omit if using savory filling)
3 eggs
4 to 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Sweet or savory filling (recipe follow)
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Steps:

Mix the yeast with the warm water and let set for five minutes, heat the butter and the milk and let cool, add to the yeast, add the sugar and salt, beat in the eggs and nutmeg, mix to combine thoroughly. Add the flour until you can not stir with a spoon or mixer. Turn the dough out onto a board and knead in the rest of the flour. Continue kneading for 10 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl and set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down and knead a few times. Wrap airtight and place in refrigerator. The dough needs to be cold in order to roll and form, so refrigerate it overnight. Fillings: Sweet cheese filling: Beat together 2 large packages (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature; 1/2 cup powered sugar; 1 egg; 2 teaspoons grated orange peel; and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Stir in 1 cup raisins and 1 cup chopped candied orange peel. Savory cheese filling: Beat together 1 large packages (8 ounce) cream cheese, at room temperature; 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled; 1 egg; and 1 cup finely chopped green onion. If the filling is not going to be used the day it is made, cover and refrigerated overnight. When you are ready to form the bundles, knead the dough a few times to get the air out. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces, keep the remaining pieces cold while you roll one portion at a time into a 6"to 6 1/2"-inch circle. Place equal portions (2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons) of filling in center. Draw dough up around filling, and pleat; pinch firmly just above filling, letting dough top flare loosely. As you finish each bundle, place 2 inches apart on greased 10 by 15-inch baking sheet. Cover bundles loosely with plastic wrap and place in warm place to rise until puffy, about 30 minutes. Uncover and pinch under pleats to seal. Brush bundles with a mixture of 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water. Bake at 350 degrees fahrenheit until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. To store, cool completely. The finished bread bundles can be refrigerated for a few days or frozen up to six months, if they aren't eaten before that.