GREAT BAKES FOR ADVENT

CHRISTMAS WREATH

This might well be the prettiest thing to have come out of our kitchen all year. It has a light and fluffy, yet rich, moist and indulgent crumb.

MAKES 1 LARGE WREATH, SERVES 8-10

■ 450g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
■ 30g caster sugar
■ ½ tsp fine sea salt
■ 1tsp ground cinnamon
■ 20g fresh yeast, or 10g dried
■ 180ml tepid whole milk
■ 200g Quark
■ 50g unsalted butter, at room temp
■ 1tsp vanilla extract
■ Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
■ 50g raisins
■ 60g glacé cherries, chopped
■ 30g flaked almonds, roughly chopped
■ 1 egg, beaten

FOR THE GLAZE

■ 100g icing sugar, silted
■ 1 tbsp lemon juice
■ 2 tsp water

TO DECORATE

■ 30g glace cherries, halved
■ 30g flaked almonds, toasted

Put the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon into a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Crumble the yeast (or sprinkle if using dried) into the