Dried Fruit Yeast Bread Recipes

DRIED FRUIT AND CINNAMON BATTER BREAD

Steps:

• Spray bottom and sides of 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour, the granulated sugar, salt, cinnamon and yeast. Add water, butter and egg. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in dried fruit and remaining 1 cup flour to make a stiff batter.
• Spread batter in pan; pat into shape with floured hands. Cover loosely with plastic wrap lightly sprayed with cooking spray; let rise in warm place 45 to 60 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Remove plastic wrap. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Immediately remove from pan and place top side up on cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle glaze over top of loaf.

SPICED FRUIT LOAF

Steps:

• Soak the dried fruits in the orange juice for about 30 mins, then sieve, reserving the juice.
• Put the flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp salt into a large mixing bowl with the spices and soaked fruit and mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, reserved orange juice, the beaten egg and the melted butter. Mix everything together to form a dough - start with a wooden spoon and finish with your hands. If the dough is too dry, add a little more warm water; if it's too wet, add more flour.
• Knead in the bowl or on a floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and springy. Transfer to a clean, lightly greased bowl and cover loosely with a clean, damp tea towel. Leave in a warm place to rise until roughly doubled in size - this will take about 1 hr depending on how warm the room is.
• Knock the dough back by kneading for a few secs. Dust 2 x 2lb loaf tins with flour. Halve the dough. Use a little flour to help you shape each half into a smooth oval, then pop them into the tins. Cover both loosely with a clean, damp tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for about 20 mins. Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Bake for 20 mins, then cool in the tins before turning out and slicing.

FRUIT YEAST BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Make your bread dough. Let it rise till double in size. Punch it down. Soak your dried fruit a wee bit or don't..doesn't really matter. It's good both ways. Roll dough out not too thin. Spread a little bit of butter, sprinkle some sugar, and spread the dried fruit evenly. Roll up and tighten ends. Lightly butter a loaf pan. Put the dough in and let it raise till double in size.
• 2. Bake 350* until golden brown or until bread test says it done.
• 3. Turn out on rack on it's side to cool. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle a glaze on top. Serve with cream cheese, plain, clotted cream or devonshire cream. This also makes a wonderful bread pudding.
• 4. I'd give you my bread recipe, but somehow saying 6 hand fulls of flour (more or less), 2 thick slices of butter, 1 cake yeast, sugar, salt, scolded milk or half and half just isn't going to cut it for most. One day I will have to measure it all out. The one I posted for the Pirukad is close. That one I measured out.

EASY ITALIAN EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a large saucepan, heat milk and 2 tablespoons butter to 120°-130°. Add dry ingredients; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs; mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 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; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in fruit, almonds and aniseed until blended. Let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into a 24-in. rope. Loosely twist ropes together; place on a greased baking sheet and form into a ring. Pinch ends together. Melt remaining butter; brush over dough. Gently separate ropes and tuck dyed eggs into openings. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes., Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. For glaze, in a bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over bread. Sprinkle with candies if desired.