A panettone-like sweet bread, this Christmas bread will be a welcome addition to your holiday table. Studded with dried cranberries and scented with lemon, it's a delicious treat.
Combine the ingredients in the pan of a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set the dough cycle and turn it on.
To make the dough in a stand mixer:
Combine the milk, butter, and sugar in a medium-size saucepan and warm slightly over medium heat. The mixture should be 105 to 110 degrees F. Transfer the mixture to the mixer bowl and add the yeast. Stir and allow the yeast to proof for 5 minutes.
Add the egg, flour, cranberries, lemon zest, and salt. Stir to combine well. Attach the bread hook and knead until a smooth elastic dough is formed, adding ½ to 1 cup flour if necessary. Transfer to a greased bowl and turn the dough ball to coat. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
To make the dough by hand:
Combine the milk, butter, and sugar in a medium-size saucepan and warm slightly over medium heat. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and add the yeast. Stir and allow the yeast to proof for 5 minutes.
Add the egg, flour, cranberries, lemon zest, and salt. Stir to combine well.
Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes to create a smooth, elastic dough, adding more all-purpose flour as necessary. Transfer to a greased bowl and turn the dough ball to coat. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
To form the loaves:
Preheat the oven to 350 °. Place two 4-inch panettone paper molds on a baking sheet.
When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it in two pieces.
Form each piece into a tight ball and place in a paper mold. Cover and allow the dough to rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Brush the tops of the bread rounds with beaten egg wash and sprinkle with pearl sugar. Bake the breads for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Test with an instant read thermometer. The center of the bread should be 190 degrees. Cool on a rack before serving.
Notes
Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.Nutritional values are approximate, based on ⅛ of a round of bread, and do not include the optional topping.Variations - While lemon zest and dried cranberries keep this Christmas Bread simple, feel free to add any of the following instead of or in addition to the cranberries:
orange zest
finely diced candied orange
dried currants
raisins (gold or black)
chocolate chips
vanilla, rum, or almond extract
toasted and chopped nuts
If you don't have paper molds, form each section of dough into a loaf shape and place each in a traditional loaf pan. Baking time may be on the shorter side.