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1
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter, egg, sugar, salt and 1-1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough.
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2
Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
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3
Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness; cut out into seventeen 3-1/2-in. circles.
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4
For herb butter, combine the butter, garlic, basil, oregano, onion and cayenne. Set aside 1 teaspoon herb butter. Spread the remaining herb butter over dough circles to within 1/2 in. of edges. Using the dull edge of a table knife, make an off center crease in each roll. Fold along crease.
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5
To form tree, place one roll near the top center of a parchment paper-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Arrange 14 rolls overlapping slightly, forming a tree. Use water to moisten dough where it overlaps.
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6
For trunks, place remaining rolls on bottom of tree. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes.
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7
In microwave, melt reserved butter mixture. Brush over rolls; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 350u00b0 until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.
