Schnitzbrodt (German Fruit Bread)

Ingredients

• 12 ounces mixed dried fruit
• 8 ounces dried apples
• 1 package dry yeast
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water (115° - 120°)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm scalded milk (115° - 120°)
• 1 1/2 cups flour, unsifted
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup currant
• 1 cup nuts, chopped,if desired
• 7 cups flour, more as needed

Directions

1. 1

   Cover mixed dried fruit and apples with boiling water in saucepan and soak overnight.

2. 2

   Next morning, cook until fruit is quite soft, about 15 minutes, then drain well in a colander.

3. 3

   Chop or cut up fruit.

4. 4

   Soften yeast in lukewarm water, add 1 Tbsp sugar and let stand 10 minutes.

5. 5

   Add milk.

6. 6

   Add 1 ½ C flour to make a sponge and set aside until bubbles break on top.

7. 7

   Cream butter in a large mixing bowl.

8. 8

   Add 1 C sugar and cream well.

9. 9

   Mix in beaten eggs.

10. 10

    Add the sponge, chopped fruits, salt, cinnamon, raisins, currants and nuts.

11. 11

    Beat in 3 cups flour.

12. 12

    Divide dough into fourths.

13. 13

    Take out ¼ of the dough and knead on a floured pastry cloth or board adding enough flour to keep the dough soft but not sticky.

14. 14

    Continue doing this 3 more times until all the dough has been worked up, then knead it all together.

15. 15

    Lightly oil a clean bowl, take dough and run the top around the inside of the bowl, place it in the bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.

16. 16

    Knead lightly, divide into 4 portions and shape each into a loaf, place in greased loaf pans.

17. 17

    Cover and let rise until double.

18. 18

    Bake at 400° for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350° and bake 45 minutes longer or until done.