No-Knead Walnut Raisin Christmas Bread
This Christmas bread is easy to make and requires virtually no kneading. It calls for readily available ingredients. It's rather dense but has a nice texture that is perfect for adding butter, spreads, cream cheese and many other things. This recipe can be doubled to make a larger loaf that can be cut in half then given as gifts. If doubled it makes a very heavy (nearly 3.5 pounds) loaf of bread. Cooking time needs to be increased by 20 minutes....so 45 minutes with the lid on then additional 20 with lid off. Will yield a heavy, dense bread with a crispy texture that is perfect for morning coffee and begs to be paired with cream cheese.
This bread makes a terrific gift as it's loaded with lots of interesting festive ingredients. The floral aroma is achieved by using cardamom and freshly ground nutmeg.
- 1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 c all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 c water at 100 degrees
- 1 c walnuts, slightly chopped
- 2/3 c raisins
- 2/3 c golden raisins
- 2 tbs brown sugar or white sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp yeast
- Add all ingredients to a large work bowl, with wooden spoon mix well until all flour is combined into the dough. It will be sticky and kind of shaggy
- Cover dough and let stand at around 70 degrees for 3 hours
- After 3 hours, turn dough out on floured work surface, dust the top with flour then carefully fold dough over a few times to tighten the outer skin.
- Place dough into a bowl that has been lined with parchment paper.
- Cover with kitchen towel and let rise 1 hour
- Place a large dutch oven with oven safe lid into a cold oven....then heat oven to 450 degrees
- Once at 450, remove dutch oven and place dough into it using parchment paper to lift the dough and place it carefully into dutch oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes, then remove lid and continue baking another 10-15 minutes or until desired crispy brown texture is achieved.
- Allow to cool 2-3 hours before cutting.