Christmas Bread Towers

Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes dry yeast
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 egg, separated
• 1 cup light raisins
• 1/3 cup chopped candied cherry

Recipe

• 1 sprinkle the yeast over warm water in a large mixing bowl; stir until dissolved.
• 2 add 3 cups of flour, butter, peanut butter, sugar, 4 eggs and 1 egg yolk. blend together on low speed with an electric mixer until smooth. beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• 3 add remaining flour and fruit; beat with a wooden spoon. turn onto a floured board; knead until smooth.
• 4 place in a lightly greased bowl and turn to grease surface. cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 2 hours.
• 5 punch down; knead until smooth. divide into thirds. place into 3 greased and floured 1-pound coffee cans. let rise until double in bulk, about 30-45 minutes.
• 6 bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. brush with reserved egg ; sprinkle with additional sugar.
• 7 bake for 45 minutes longer or until bread tests done. remove the bread from the can and cool.
• 8 wipe the cans and prepare with christmas paper if desired or place the loaves in festive plastic wrap and tie with a christmas ribbon.