If you are looking for a delicious addition to your holiday meals this winter or want to have the best dish at a holiday party, try out this twisted holiday bread!
My neighbor passed this recipe to my family, and it has become a tradition that started with the loaf she would give us around Christmas time to something my siblings and I love on every holiday.
This dough is moldable and can be used to create any shape you would like. Typically, we will shape ours into a Christmas tree, but you could make a snowflake, a regular braid, or anything else you would like.
Ingredients
3-cups flour
1 envelope active dry yeast
¼-teaspoon baking soda
1-cup buttermilk
1-cup sugar
¼-cup butter or margarine
1-teaspoon salt
1 egg
2+ tablespoons butter, softened
Optional: colored edible crystals or sprinkles
Combine 1 ½ cups flour, yeast, and baking soda. Heat buttermilk, butter, sugar, and salt until warm, stir the mixture until the butter is fully melted. Add to dry ingredients. Add egg. With a mixer or dough attachment mix at a low speed for ½ a minute. Scrape the bowl and mix for another 3 minutes at a high speed. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough becomes moderately stiff. Turn onto a flour board and knead for 5 minutes. Cover half of the dough for 10 minutes and let rest. Roll the other half of the dough into a 14×6 inch rectangle. Spread softened butter onto your rolled out dough, and sprinkle with colored crystals or sprinkles (optional). Fold the dough to make whatever shape you would like. It is recommended to cut into 14 by 1-inch strips and twist the dough. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Cover your shaped dough and let rise for one hour. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes. Serve warm.
