Candy Cane Bread Recipes

CANDY CANE HOLIDAY BREAD

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, maraschino cherries, and raisins in a food processor, meat grinder, or baby food mill fitted with the blade. Process until finely chopped.
• Transfer the fruit mixture to a saucepan; add sugar and honey. Bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat until quite thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool, about 15 minutes. Refrigerate filling; it should thicken to the consistency of thick jam.
• Combine water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, microwave 1 cup butter in a 4-cup glass measuring cup until melted, about 1 minute on high. Add milk and microwave on medium until steaming, about 3 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Stir proofed yeast and eggs into the milk mixture. Mix flour and 3 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl; make a well in the center. Pour yeast mixture into the well. Stir until well combined. Cover bowl with greased plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate, 3 hours to overnight.
• Line 2 baking sheet with foil and grease lightly with 1 teaspoon butter.
• Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll a piece out into 18x14-inch rectangle on the foil. Cut eighteen 1-inch flaps down each long side like the legs of a centipede. Spread 1/2 of the filling down the center strip. Overlap the flaps of dough alternately over the filling, tucking the ends under. Repeat with the second piece of dough and remaining filling.
• Gently curve the tops of the loaves to form a candy cane shape. Leave at least a couple inches all around for dough to expand. Cover with dry towels and let rise until puffed and doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Uncover loaves and bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Mix icing sugar, melted butter, and milk in a small bowl or glass measuring cup to make icing. Spoon into a resealable plastic bag and snip off a bottom corner. Drizzle icing over candy cane loaves while still warm.

CANDY CANE BREAD

Steps:

• Stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.
• Cut in the butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add nuts.
• Mix egg and milk. Stir into dry mixture just till moistened.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat dough to a 10 x 7-inch rectangle, 1/2 inch thick. Cut crosswise into 1-inch strips. Twist each strip by holding both ends. Bend 1 end to form a candy cane.
• Place several inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes or till light brown.
• Carefully transfer to rack. Cool. Coat each cane with powdered Sugar Icing. Decorate, using decorator icing, cinnamon candies, or peppermint candies as desired. Makes 10.
• Powdered Sugar Icing: In bowl combine 2 cups sifted powdered sugar and enough milk to make of drizzling consistency.

SARASOTA'S CANDY CANE BREAD

Steps:

• Bread -- Now, this is my method to make 2 candy canes.
• Method -- I like to cut the loaf in half - then I cut each half piece in half again but lengthwise.
• Now take 1 of the loaf halves you just cut in two lengthwise. This will make one of your candy canes.
• Fruit -- Lay them out flat and pull them to stretch them out a bit. I press them down a little, but not too much. Press the nuts and dried fruits on each of the pieces and make sure you press the fruit and nuts in good.
• Twist -- Put the two pieces together. Lay the second piece right on top of the first piece fruit side up. Pinch the ends together Then just twist the two together 4-5 twists.
• Bake -- Form the twisted bread like a candy cane and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Heat up the oven according to the package directions to 350 degrees.
• Glaze -- Melt the butter and honey in the microwave for just a few seconds 5-10 second, just so the butter melts a bit and then brush on the bread and sprinkle with the very fine chopped nuts. Baking time I really find varies on the oven and pan used. I check mine after 15 minutes. It can take anywhere from 20-25 minutes on average. Just check to see when golden brown. Remove and let cool.
• Icing -- Mix powdered sugar and add a little milk at a time until you get a nice icing consistency. Your bread should be cooled by now, just do this on warm bread. Drizzle the icing on with a spoon at an angle. The twists in the bread will give you an idea where the icing should go. I just do thin drizzles. It should resemble a candy cane.
• Wrap up in a cellophane bag and tie with a red and green ribbon and a small candy cane. What a nice simple gift which costs maybe 2 dollars. One year I made 40 of them to give to friends at work. I could make 10 at a time in the oven so, in just a couple of hours, I had made 40 gifts. Just a nice thought for the holiday season.