Serves: 5

Christmas Tree You Will Need:
One-half portion of desired dough
Whole Egg Glaze or Egg White Glaze
Powdered Sugar Icing
Candied cherries, small candies, colored sugar or nut halves (optional)
Candied sliced pineapple (optional)
Powdered Sugar Icing
* See note below.

* In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon half-and-half or milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons softened butter or margarine and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Makes about 1/2 cup. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle, 1" thick. Using a 2" round cutter, cut sixteen circles, re-rolling dough as needed. Shape each into a ball. Arrange fifteen balls about 1/8" apart on a greased baking sheet to form a tree. Shape a rounded point in the top ball of the tree. To form trunk, shape remaining ball into a rectangle and place below the tree.

Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, for 45 minutes or until almost doubled. Brush lightly with glaze.

Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 15 minutes. Quickly glaze again. Bake 10 minutes longer or until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped, (About halfway through baking, cover browned areas with foil if needed.) Let cool 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

Decorate with icing, cherries, candies, colored sugar or nuts as desired. If desired, cut a star shape from pineapple slice and fasten to top of tree with a wooden pick.

More Recipes from the Fresh-From-The-Oven Breads Cookbook:
Bear
Christmas Tree
Goose
Lamb
Pineapple
Pretzels / Letters
Wreath