Mennonite Girls Can Cook is a collection of recipes which were posted daily for a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018. We have over 3,000 delicious recipes that we invite you to try. The recipes can be accessed in our recipe file by category or you can use the search engine.

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Christmas Fruit and Nut Wreath


Before Internet, we received small advertising brochures with recipes in the mail and the reason I tried this one is because the picture looked so beautiful! My husband always says “You know, this is the only thing you have to make for Christmas, don’t you?” (Too bad I love to bake!)
We also had a good laugh when our three-year-old grandson saw it on the counter and exclaimed. “That’s my best!!”

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • ½ cup cold water
  • 3 - 3 1/2 cup flour, divided
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons quick rise yeast
  • 1 egg
Filling:
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped almonds
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • ¼ cup glace mix (finely chopped candied fruit)
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Updated (alternate)  filling:
  • 2 tablespoons butter for spreading
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/3 cup cranberries
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped dried apricots
  • 1/4 cup diced candied citrus peel 
  • rind of one orange
Icing:
  • 3/4 - 1 cup icing sugar
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons milk 
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (stir until smooth)

1. Heat milk and butter until hot to touch. Cool somewhat with ½ cup cold water.
2. In mixing bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups of the flour, sugar, salt and yeast.
3. Stir hot liquids into dry mixture. Mix in the egg, then 1 1/2 - 2 cups flour, to make a soft manageable dough that does not stick to sides of bowl.
4. Cover and rise 20 minutes.

5. Roll out on floured surface into 16 x 9 inch rectangle.
6. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon filling.
7. Roll up jelly-roll fashion. Place seam down, shaping into a circle on greased or parchment paper lined pizza pan, folding ends one inside the other.
8. Cut 2/3 of the way into ring at 1 inch intervals. Turn each slice a little outward, on its side. Cover and rise about 45 min. Bake at 350° F, about 20 min. Slide off pan onto wire rack to cool.

9. Drizzle with icing.
10. Sprinkle with slivered toasted almonds.

17 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful sweet roll for the holidays!

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  2. Anneliese, I pulled out my very old Flieshmans yeast recipe book to see if it was there, I didn't have that exact recipe in mine.
    Oh your Christmas wreath looks just so pretty, and such a great coffee bread for a night of sitting around a fireplace with friends.

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  3. Wow this looks festive Anneliese! These wreaths make great Christmas gifts as well.
    Those 'little cookbooks' we used to get were wonderful..I'm still using some of those recipes.

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  4. I think this really must be your BEST! I have an old book, too! I'll have to look and see if I have the recipe! And I think I need to start a tradition this year!

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  5. that really does look like christmas is comming. how beautiful and i can see why your husband would love it!

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  6. So excited we get to have it when we're home for Christmas this year!!!

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  7. Oh my...when I opened MGCC tonight and I saw the picture I thot...this must be a post from Anneliese. Yep! Again you bring out a great recipe. I wish I lived in your house! This is simply gorgeous and I bet yummy....Do you think I could make this?!

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  8. How do you get your ring to be so evenly shaped? I have trouble getting the joined ends to look the same as the rest of the ring. It ends up looking a bit lopsided.
    Your ring looks lovely and I can't believe you have Christmas arrangements out already! Good for you.

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  9. What Betty said is right . . . these do make great gifts. I usuallly double the recipe and then divide and make three rings out of it. Allow the icing to harden, slip into a large bag or celophane and tie with a ribbon. You can get some nice dollar store plates and off you go.

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  10. oh wow...that does look the best! LOL. i might just have to create this for some event somewhere....off to add the stuff to my christmas baking shopping list! :)

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  11. Hello Anneliese, seeing this sweet roll brought back memories. I made it every year for my Christmas too, now my children and grandchildren make it. The original recipe came from a Southern Living magazine. They had it featured on the cover. Can't remember the year, but it was a long time ago. It is a keeper. Thank you for this blog. It is wonderful! Judy

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  12. I did it! I really made Christmas Wreath for our family! And even though it took much effort to get out of the idea that only my Mom (you) can make this, I did it ... and it turned out lovely. Thank you, Mom, for teaching me. I think that the tradition will now carry on in our family. Love from, Jules

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  13. Hi there, this is Marie from New Zealand; this recipe is exactly what I would like to serve on Christmas morning; thanks for sharing.
    I wonder if you have ever frozen the bread dough or kept it in the refrigerator overnight before cooking?
    I have to pick my daughter up at the airport at midnight so I'm not keen on getting up at the crack of dawn to start the bread! :)

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  14. Anonymous, you can bake this ring before picking up your daughter. It takes maybe 2 1/2 hours max from start to finish. Depending on how quickly it rises it could be less ... drizle your icing or frosting on as soon as it is mostly cooled. Head to the airport, it will smell nice when you come back. Cover it with a sheet of wax paper and a clean tea towel or a large bowl and enjoy in the morning. That's what I did when my kids came home last weekend. It's good for a few days.
    No, I've never put the dough in the fridge.

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  15. Hi Anneliese, Marie here again; I just wanted to thank you for your reply last year! It was too late of course; I did put it in the fridge.I thought you would be interested to know how I got on; it didn't rise as well but was still delicious! I will be making it again tomorrow and this time will follow your instructions to the letter:). I will bake it before picking up my daughter and I am now confident that it will stay fresh as the leftovers were lovely last year.
    Once again, thank you for sharing, Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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    Replies
    1. Nice to hear from you again, Marie! Wishing you all the best and a blessed Christmas!

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