Salvete auditores!  Hoc in episodio de praeceptis panis cum pomis loquimur et promisimus praecepta addere, ergo inspicite et speramus vos cocturos et cocturas sitis:

​​Smarrisons’ Holiday Spice Bread  (Panis Dulcis ad Dies Hiemnales Feriatos)

Ingredients (Elementa)

STEP 1:

• 3 cups warm water
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp (1 packet) dry yeast

STEP 2:

• 2 cups chopped mixed dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, currants, apricots, prunes, cherries and candied ginger)

STEP 3: (everything else)

• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp melted butter, slightly cooled
• 1 egg
• 2 tsps cinnamon
• ¼ tsp each of ground cloves and nutmeg
• 3 ½ cups white flour
• 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• ¾ cup oats
• 1 tsp salt

Method:

Preheat oven to 350.

1. Pour the warm water into the mixing bowl of a standing mixer, add the brown sugar, stir well to dissolve, and sprinkle the yeast over the water.
2. Wait 10 minutes for it to proof.
3. Add the dried fruit to the water - let it soak for 20 minutes.
4. Add the egg, vanilla, butter, and spices.  Add the flour, oats, and salt.
5. Mix with a dough hook for 15 minutes or so.
6. Transfer the dough to loaf pans (We use 3 smaller loaf pans but two large pans will work) and let it rise until the dough is above the pan but be careful that it does not collapse.
7. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.  Tap the bread to check that it is fully cooked.