Chocolate Breakfast Wreath

Be sure to soften butter until it's spreadable. The silky dough is a dream to work with, so even beginning bakers can make this beautiful wreath. Try this chocolate version or Citrus-Cranberry.

Chocolate Breakfast Wreath
Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Hands On Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 40 mins
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup warm milk (100°)

  • 2 (1/4-oz.) envelopes active dry yeast

  • 1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided

  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 cups soft butter, divided

  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature

  • Parchment paper

  • 1 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bar, finely chopped

  • Easy Vanilla Glaze

Directions

  1. Combine milk, yeast, and 1/3 cup sugar in bowl of a stand mixer; let stand 5 minutes or until foamy. Gradually add 1 cup flour, beating at low speed until blended; scrape down sides. Add salt and 1 cup butter; beat at low speed until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated after each addition and scraping sides of bowl as needed. Gradually add remaining 3 1/2 cups flour, beating until blended. Increase speed to medium, and beat until dough forms a ball and begins to pull away from sides. Beat dough 2 more minutes or until smooth and elastic. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 3 minutes.

  2. Place dough in a large greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place (80° to 85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk. Punch dough down, and turn out onto lightly floured parchment paper. Roll dough into a 12- x 18-inch rectangle.

  3. Brush 6 Tbsp. soft butter over dough; sprinkle with chocolate and 1/2 cup sugar. Roll up dough, jelly-roll fashion, starting at 1 long side. Press edge to seal, and place dough, seam side down, on parchment paper.

  4. Transfer parchment paper with dough onto a baking sheet. Shape rolled dough into a ring, pressing ends together to seal. Cut ring at 2-inch intervals, from outer edge up to (but not through) inside edge. Gently pull and twist cut pieces to show filling. Cover dough.

  5. Let rise in a warm place (80° to 85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 350°. Uncover dough. Melt remaining 2 Tbsp. butter; brush over dough. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until golden. Cool on pan 10 minutes. Drizzle Easy Vanilla Glaze over warm bread.

  6. Make-Ahead Tip

  7. Freshly Baked Bread: Make the dough (through Step 4) a day ahead. Chill overnight. Let the dough come to room temperature and rise in the morning. Then bake and serve.

  8. Citrus-Cranberry Wreath: Omit chocolate and Easy Vanilla Glaze. Soak 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries in 1 cup boiling water 15 minutes; drain and pat cranberries dry. Prepare Breakfast Wreath recipe as directed through Step 3, sprinkling cranberries over dough and 1 Tbsp. lightly packed orange zest over cranberries before rolling. Proceed as directed in Steps 4 and Beat together 3 oz. softened cream cheese and 1 Tbsp. softened butter in a medium bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar to cream cheese mixture alternately with 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice, beating at medium speed after each addition. Add up to 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice, 1 tsp. at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over bread. Hands-on 25 min.; Total 3 hours, 40 min.

Related Articles