CRANBERRY EGGNOG BRAID

Cranberry Eggnog Braid image

Meet the Cook: Whether at Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, this is a good party bread. You can't beat it as a gift either...everyone I make it for really enjoys it My husband and I have a daughter, 3, and twins (a boy and girl) who are 2. -Mary Lindow, Florence, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 50m

Yield 1 loaf.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/4 cups eggnog
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup dried cranberries
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons eggnog
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash nutmeg

Steps:

In a bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups of flour, sugar, salt, yeast and nutmeg; set aside. In a saucepan, heat eggnog and butter to 120°-130° (the butter does not need to melt); add to flour mixture. Beat on low until moistened; beat on medium for 3 minutes. , Stir in cranberries and enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; divide into thirds. Shape each third into a 16-in. rope. Braid ropes on a greased baking sheet; seal ends. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden. Immediately remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Combine the first 3 glaze ingredients; drizzle over braid. Dust with nutmeg.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 257 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 153mg sodium, Carbohydrate 46g carbohydrate (21g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.