Chocolate Swirl Loaf
This delicious (and gorgeous) wreath-shaped loaf is ideal for a holiday brunch.
Dough
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water
- 2 large eggs
- 2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 3/4 cup Hi-maize Natural Fiber
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup Baker's Special Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Filling
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons Chocolate Schmear*
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup chopped toasted almonds or walnuts, optional
Glaze
- 1 cup glazing sugar or confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or scant 1/4 teaspoon almond flavoring
- 2 tablespoons cream or half and half
Directions
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1) Combine all of the dough ingredients in a large bowl, a bread machine, or in the bowl of your stand mixer. |
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2) Mix and knead everything together till you've made a soft, smooth dough. |
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3) Cover the bowl, or place the dough in lightly greased container, and allow it to rise for about 1 hour; it'll become puffy, but won't double in bulk. |
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4) Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface, and roll it into a 12" x 20" rectangle. |
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5) Warm the 1/2 cup Chocolate Schmear briefly in the microwave, to make it spreadable. |
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6) Spread the Schmear over the dough, leaving an uncovered strip about 1" wide along one long end. |
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7) Sprinkle the sugar and chopped nuts over the filling. |
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8) Starting with the long covered edge, roll the dough into a 20" log, and pinch the seam closed. |
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9) Slice the log into 1" pieces and "shingle" them (seam-side down) into a lightly greased ring pan, or form the dough into a circle on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. |
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10) Cover the dough and let it rise until puffy, about 45 minutes. While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 350°F. |
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11) Bake the wreath for about 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown and firm to the touch; the inside will register 190°F on an instant-read thermometer. |
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12) Remove the bread from the oven and cool it in the pan for about 30 minutes before drizzling with the glaze. |
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13) Mix the glaze ingredients together, and drizzle over the slightly warm loaf. |
Recipe summary
- Hands-on time:
- 25 mins. to 30 mins.
- Baking time:
- 25 mins. to 30 mins.
- Total time:
- 2 hrs 35 mins. to 2 hrs 40 mins.
- Yield:
- One 10" wreath
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- Recipe comments (1) »
Tips from our bakers
- For a poppy-seed loaf, spread the dough with about 3/4 cup poppy seed filling instead of Chocolate Schmear.
Reviews
01/26/2009
I made this recipe yesterday and substituted poppy seeds for the choclate schmere. (By the way, I found a recipe for poppy seed filling on foodtv.ca -- Anna Olson) This was the first time I used the ring mold and it helped keep everything in place & made a beautiful presentation. The only thing is that I believe the ring mold increased the baking time by as much as 15 mins. I ultimately had to cover it with aluminum foil to prevent it from getting too brown before the temp reached 190 degrees. Delicious

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