Designs on 47th Street: Christmas tree bread and dishes

Last year I found four of the Christmas tree plates by Johnson Brothers at TJ Maxx. During multiple trips there and Marshalls I ran across seven of the mugs. The dishes match my Old British Castles transferware and I’m really drawn to this look. I found four more dinner plates at Marshalls last week plus another mug so I have eight!

My centerpiece was pretty simple but I enjoy looking through the glass at candlelight and a snowy, wintery scene.

Evergreens, a few more votives and a few little Christmas treasures are just nestled

around.

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Do you ever get your table about 3/4 set and wish that you had started off with a different table cloth or runner? :(

That happened to me as I was setting this up. I was in a huge hurry though as my friend Susan was having a special birthday.

I wanted to have a brunch for her in my home instead of a restaurant. Sooo, the tablecloth I had remorse over was allowed to stay. I would rather have chosen a creamy white tablecloth and a deep red runner.

I have a pretty Christmas bread I would like to share with you today as I join Designs by Gollum.

I have made this off and on for YEARS and I still love the presentation. Depending on your favorite yeast sweet bread recipe you can get two or sometimes three trees out of one recipe. Let me know if you need my sweet bread recipe.

After the first rise, you are ready to form the tree. Roll or hand pat your dough to five inches on the top, 10- 12” up and down and about 15” on the very bottom.

Brush melted butter over the dough and add the filling being careful not to go clear to the edge. That way the edges will hold when you pinch the form together.

Filling

1 cup sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 t. mace (the spice!)

2 t. cinnamon

Here I am showing how the dough is now folded together and pinched to close

Very carefully place the tree seam side down onto a greased cookie sheet.

Now with kitchen scissors cut inward on each side about 1 1/2” apart almost to the center.

Now starting with the first branches, fold a quarter turn downward so that the filling shows.

Turn bottom branches down to form the trunk.

Follow your sweet bread instructions but this is where you will let it rise for the final time.

After it bakes (don’t overbake!) cool the bread and then you are ready to frost.

Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar and about 2 T. ( I used more) half and half or heaving whipping cream and about 1 t. vanilla or almond flavoring.

Decorate with cherries that have been halved. Years ago green cherries were available too, but I can’t find those anymore.

I sprinkled with some little Christmas tree candies I found at TJ Maxx ( of course!)

Place tree on a large silver tray or a piece of sturdy cardboard that has been wrapped in tin foil. These are fun to give as gifts to friends or neighbors as well.