This is an Italian fruit bread that is served for parties and I make it often. My husband used to take several loaves with him on his annual ice fishing trip with various acquaintances from work. They would eat it on the way to Rainy Lake in northern Minnesota. He cut the bread into thick slices and put butter or cream cheese on it. They named the bread Buddy Bread as they shared a slice. Every year for over ten years, they looked forward to their Buddy Bread sharing experience.
For one and a half loaves use: three quarters plus one tablespoon room temperature water; two large eggs; half a teaspoon of vanilla extract; three tablespoons of butter or margarine; three and a half cups of bread flour; three tablespoons of sugar; a teaspoon and a quarter of salt; two teaspoons of active dry yeast or one and a half teaspoons of quick-rising yeast for bread machines; one-third cup of grapes; one-third cup of mixed candied fruit; two tablespoons of blanched filleted almonds; a tablespoon of grated lemon peel.
For a two pound loaf size use: one cup of room temperature water; two large eggs; a teaspoon of vanilla extract; three tablespoons of butter or margarine; four cups of bread flour, three tablespoons of sugar; one and a half tablespoons of salt; two and a quarter teaspoons of active dry yeast or two teaspoons of quick-rising or bread machine yeast; half a cup of grapes, half a cup of mixed candied fruit; three tablespoons of blanched filleted almonds; two tablespoons of lemon zest.
Select the basic, special, or sweet bread setting cycle on your bread machine. Add the liquids to your pan first and then the butter. Add all dry ingredients to loaf pan except yeast. Keep the salt away from the center of the pan. This is where you put the dry yeast. Pound the pan to settle the dry ingredients, then level the ingredients by pushing the mixture to the ends and sides of the pan. Make a hole in the center of the pan and add the dry yeast. Don’t add the grapes, nuts, and lemon peel yet. Lock the tray in position.
Program machine for desired loaf setting and desired crust color and loaf size. Press the start button. Add the fruit and nuts when the alert sounds during the kneading cycle. Before adding the fruit and nuts, sprinkle a little flour so they don’t stick.
When the machine finishes baking, remove the tray. I don’t take the bread out of the pan for at least half an hour. I let it cool in the pan on a wire rack. I have better luck removing it after it cools down a bit. If not, poke holes in the bottom where the two paddles are.
This bread is great just with butter. You can also make a cream cheese topping by adding a little honey to taste along with a small amount of chopped toasted walnuts. For an extra special topping, you can put on a confection sugar icing or icing. Mix a little powdered sugar with a small amount of water and a little salt. Thicken to the consistency you like and cover the bread with it. If this is done, you probably won’t want to toast the bread. It just gives you a bit of visual enhancement. This is an excellent sweet bread recipe.
I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as our family.
