Christmas Raspberry Wreath

With the magic of Christmas upon us, there is nothing more magical than waking up to the smell of a homemade Raspberry Wreath!  Once you make this festive treat, we guarantee it will become a firm favourite in your family for many Christmases to come.  Poor Santa though - he arrives too early to feast on this treat!  Ho ho ho ho ho!

Christmas Raspberry Wreath

Ingredients

o    1 tsp dry yeast        

o    ½ cup warm water

o    1 Tbsp caster sugar    

o    1½ Tbsp milk

o    1½ cup flour    

o    1½ Tbsp vegetable oil

o    1 handful of currants    

o    1 Tbsp orange zest

o    1 tsp cinnamon

o    2 Tbsp Raspberry Jam    

Extra; milk for brushing, sugar for sprinkling

Christmas Ribbon

Method

1. Place yeast, sugar, water and in a bowl, stir then set aside for 5 minutes (or until you see bubbles).
2. Place flour, oil, milk, currants, zest and cinnamon in a bowl, make a well, add yeast mixture and mix to form dough.
3. Dunk your hands in flour then pull dough together and knead for 5 minutes until it feels elastic (silky).
4. Pat the top of your dough with flour.  Put in a bowl, cover with damp cloth and let it grow to the size of a giant beanstalk!! 

To make the Wreath

1. Once dough has grown, knock out the air by squashing the dough - flour your clean surface, then roll out into the shape of a rectangle (55cm * 25cm). 
2. Spread  jam over dough, cut in half down the middle, then roll-up each rectangle (lengthways) until you have 2 big logs!
3. Join the tops of each log together.
4. Twist the logs together, then form a circle and join ends together at the top.
5. Brush with milk, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
6. When cool, tie a ribbon in the top centre of your wreath.