As bright and cheery as Christmas!

Basic Sweet Dough:

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
l/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk, scalded
1 egg, beaten
4 1/2 to 5 cups all purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add butter, sugar and salt to scalded milk; cool to lukewarm. Stir in egg and dissolved yeast. Add 2 cups of flour.

Add candied fruit mix; beat until smooth. Gradually add remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn onto a floured work surface or pastry cloth and knead until dough is smooth and does not stick (about 2 minutes).

Place dough in buttered bowl and brush top with melted butter; cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap.

Set in a warm, draft-free place (80-85°F) and allow to rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Kuchen Wreath:

1 Basic Sweet Dough recipe (see above)
1 package (8 oz.) candied fruit mix, finely chopped
3 tbsp. butter, melted
1/4 cup red decorator's sugar

When dough has risen, divide in half; and, on a floured board or pastry cloth, roll each into a rectangle 9"x 18'. Brush surfaces with melted butter: then sprinkle with red decorator's sugar.

Roll each rectangle from the widest edge, as for a jelly roll, and shape into rings on buttered baking sheets. Snip with scissors at l 1/2 inch intervals, twisting alternate sections toward center of ring, cut side up.

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle red decorator's sugar on each section.

Allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place (80-85°F) for about 1/2 hour.

Bake in a 350°F oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until done.

Remove from oven; cool slightly, frost with Orange Snow Icing.

Orange Snow Icing:

1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
2 tbsp, orange juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients until smooth; drizzle over kuchen while still warm.

Submitted by: Belle