Plum Butter Bread

When you want something a bit special for a holiday or Sunday morning give this delicious bread a try. Don't let the list of ingredients scare you, it's really not difficult and gives a real sense of satisfaction when they come out of the oven. Prep time includes rising time

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1  cup  lightly packed pitted dried plum (prunes-about 8 ounces)
• 3⁄4 cup water
• 1  teaspoon lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons honey
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 3 -3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (3/4ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1  teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1  cup milk
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 2  cups whole wheat flour
• 1  cup  chopped walnuts
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1  tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

1. For plum butter, in a saucepan combine plums, water, and lemon juice; bring to boiling then reduce heat.
2. Simmer, covered, 40 minutes. remove from heat; stir in honey.
3. Cool, place in a food processor bowl and process until smooth.
4. Cover and set aside.
5. In a bowl stir together 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, yeast, and cardamom.
6. Heat milk, 1/2 cup butter, sugar, and salt until warm (120 degree F to 130 degree F).
7. Add to flour mixture along with eggs and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds.
8. Beat on high speed 3 minutes.
9. Stir in whole wheat flour and as much remaining all-purpose flour as you can.
10. On a floured surface, knead in enough remaining all-purpose flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (about 6 to 8 minutes). Place in a greased bowl, cover; let rise until double (about 1 hour).
11. Turn out onto a floured surface, divide in half.
12. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
13. Roll each half into a 12x7-inch rectangle and spread each with 1/2 cup of the plum butter to within 1 inch of edges.
14. Sprinkle with nuts and cinnamon.
15. Roll up; seal and place loaves, seam down, in two greased 8x4x2-inch loaf pans.
16. Cover; let rise until nearly double (30 to 45 minutes).
17. Bake in a 350 degree F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped.
18. Remove from pans, brush with melted butter.
19. Cool., serve with remaining plum butter.
20. Makes 2 loaves (32 servings).
21. Make-Ahead Tips: Transfer remaining prune butter to freezer container; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving. Cool loaves completely. Wrap bread in foil and place in airtight freezer containers or plastic freezer bags; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw bread for 2 hours at room temperature.