Christmas Bread With Dates And Walnuts

1. 1

   Warm the milk to about 100u00b0F and combine with vanilla extract and yeast. Stir until incorporated and set aside for 10 minutes. Sift flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour milk mixture into the well and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Cover the mixture and keep in a warm place for about 15 minutes. Melt the butter and mix it with the sugar, 1 egg, and salt. Add the butter mixture to the the flour mixture and knead with the dough hook of a hand mixer (or by hand) until smooth. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30-40 minutes in a warm place.

2. 2

   Coarsely chop the marzipan and place in a food processor with the dates and the walnuts. Pulse mixture a few times. Add 5 tbsp of rose water and 1 egg, and pulse a few more times. Roll the dough out on a floured surface into a rectangle roughly 18 inches x 12 inches. Spread the marzipan mixture on top of the dough evenly, and press it down with your fingers. Roll the dough into a log from the long side. Cut the log in half lengthwise and braid the two halves. Put the bread on a parchment-lined baking tray and set aside to rest for about 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400u00b0F. Bake the cake for 30-40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

3. 3

   To make the icing, mix the powdered sugar with 2 tbsp of rose water and stir until smooth. Brush it over the cake and garnish with rose petals. Let icing dry before serving.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.