Schnitzbrot (German Christmas Bread)

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water , 45 degrees C
• 2 envelopess active dry yeast , .25 ounce
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 10 cups all-purpose flour , divided
• 1.5 cups prune juice
• 1 package condensed mincemeat , 9 ounce
• 2 cups prunes , pitted and chopped
• 0.5 cups softened unsalted butter , more as needed
• 1 cup black raisins
• 1 cup walnuts , chopped
• 1 cup brown sugar , packed
• 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

1. 1

   Grease a large bowl. Lightly grease three 5 x 9-inch loaf pans. Set aside.

2. 2

   Pour water into another large bowl. Add yeast and stir until dissolved. Set aside until mixture becomes creamy, about 15 minutes. Stir in white sugar and 3 cups flour. Mix until well combined.

3. 3

   Add prune juice and mincemeat to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat, and stir in prunes, butter, raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, and salt.

4. 4

   Combine prune mixture with yeast mixture. Gradually stir in remaining 7 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, until well blended to make a moist dough (you may not need all of it). Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and knead into a ball. Transfer to the reserved greased bowl. Cover with a cloth, and place in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

5. 5

   Punch down dough, knead lightly on a floured work surface, and return to the bowl. Allow to rise again, about 1 hour.

6. 6

   Turn dough out onto a floured work surface. Punch down and divide into 3 loaves. Place each loaf into a prepared loaf pan. Lightly brush tops of each loaf with 1 teaspoon softened butter. Cover with a clean cloth, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

7. 7

   Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

8. 8

   Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Lower heat to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) and continue to bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of loaves comes out mostly clean, about 30 minutes more. Let cool slightly, remove from pans, and cool on racks.