~ food ~
Every family has their holiday traditions. My family? We have several, but it's just not Christmas without Grandma's cinnamon bread. It is perfect for breakfast, a pre-lunch or post-lunch snack, appetizer for dinner and a dessert. And we certainly may enjoy it for all of the above for the entire week! It's a wonder we don't come out of the holiday season with bellies like Santa.
My grandma found the recipe as a newlywed and has made it pretty much every year since so it's a long-standing expectation that we will have it each year. Last year, my first year as a newlywed myself, my grandma passed on her legacy of this delicious holiday treat. It was so meaningful and fun to learn from the expert and hear all her tips and secret on how to make many loaves as gifts or to freeze. Here is the recipe. Please enjoy with those you love the most!
Grandma's Cinnamon Bread
1/2 cup melted shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs, beaten,
1 package granular yeast
1/2 lukewarm water
2 cups milk, scalded
7 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
nuts and dried cranberries (optional)
Combine cooled shortening with sugar, salt and eggs. Soften yeast in lukewarm water and mix in. Let milk cool to lukewarm and alternate adding milk and flour, kneading lightly. Let rise in a greased bowl until doubled, then punch down. Divide into two and roll out into two rectangles the width of your baking pan. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll up and place in a greased 6 1/2" x 10 1/2" loaf pan. Let rise until doubled. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, brush tops with melted butter and bake for 45 minutes.