Christopsomo (Greek Christmas Bread)

Name: Christopsomo (Greek Christmas Bread)
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: Mediterranean, European, Greek
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons aniseed, crushed; 8 candied cherries; 2 teaspoons package dry yeast (about; 1 large egg white, lightly beaten; 2 larges eggs; 828 milliliters all-purpose flour, divided; 2 Tbsps nonfat dry milk; 1 teaspoons salt; 6 Tbsps butter or stick margarine, softened; 79 milliliters sugar; 1 Tbsp sugar; 118 milliliters warm water (100° to 110°)

The recipe Christopsomo (Greek Christmas Bread) could satisfy your Mediterranean craving in approximately 45 minutes. This recipe serves 16. One serving contains 180 calories, 5g of protein, and 5g of fat. Christmas will be even more special with this recipe. It works well as an inexpensive bread. If you have flour, candied cherries, yeast, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it.

Instructions

Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Sugar

Water

Yeast

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Add the butter and eggs; beat at medium speed of a mixer until smooth. Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

All Purpose Flour

Egg

Equipment you will use

Measuring Cup

Knife

Blender

Combine 3 cups flour, 1/3 cup sugar, dry milk, aniseed, and salt; add to yeast mixture, beating well. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.

Ingredients you will need

Powdered Milk

Anise

Dough

All Purpose Flour

Sugar

Yeast

Salt

Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85), free from drafts, about 1 1/2 hours. Dough will not double in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)

Ingredients you will need

Cooking Spray

Dough

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Punch dough down; let rest 5 minutes. Pinch 2 (1 1/2-inch) balls off dough; cover and set aside. Shape remaining dough into an 8-inch round; place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Ingredients you will need

Cooking Spray

Dough

Punch

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Brush with egg white. Shape each dough ball into an 8-inch-long rope; cut a 2-inch slash into the ends of each rope.

Ingredients you will need

Egg Whites

Dough

Place 1 rope across middle of dough; brush the middle of the rope with egg white.

Ingredients you will need

Egg Whites

Dough

Place the other rope across the middle of the rope, forming a cross. Curl the slashed ends together to form a circle; place a cherry in the middle of each circle. Arrange 4 cherries around center of cross. Cover and let rise 1 hour.

Ingredients you will need

Cherries

Preheat oven to 35

Equipment you will use

Oven

Uncover dough.

Ingredients you will need

Dough

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Remove loaf from pan, and cool on a wire rack.

Equipment you will use

Wire Rack

Frying Pan

NOTE: If you don't have time to decorate this bread, skip step Punch dough down; let rest. Shape the dough into a 8-inch round. Cover and let rise 1 hour.

Ingredients you will need

Bread

Dough

Punch

Bake as directed.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Equipment

Ingredients

Servings:

2teaspoons

aniseed, crushed 8

candied cherries 2teaspoons

package dry yeast (about 1large

egg white, lightly beaten 2larges

eggs 828milliliters

all-purpose flour, divided 2Tbsps

nonfat dry milk 1teaspoons

salt 6Tbsps

butter or stick margarine, softened 79milliliters

sugar 1Tbsp

sugar 118milliliters

warm water (100° to 110°)

Recommended wine: Agiorgitiko, Assyrtiko, Moschofilero

Greek can be paired with Agiorgitiko, Assyrtiko, and Moschofilero. If you feel like going Greek with your Greek food, assyrtiko and moschofilero are both lovely white wines to pair with chicken, seafood, etc. Agiorgitiko is a full bodied red suitable for roasted meats and lamb. The Skouras Saint George Agiorgitiko with a 4.1 out of 5 star rating seems like a good match. It costs about 18 dollars per bottle.