Pumpkin Cinnamon Christmas Tree Bread

I got up early on Christmas Eve to make this bread so that i can post the recipe and wish all family and friends a very Merry Christmas but i had a problem with my computer and am not able to do so until now.  Sorry about the late wishes but the bread turned out so well and the fragrance of Christmas filled the whole house and woke everyone up earlier than usual.  I am sharing how this bread is shaped and to WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

INGREDIENTS:

1 large egg

1/2 cup water

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp fine granulated sugar

2 tbsp milk powder

2 tbsp vegetable oil

3 1/2 cups bread flour or 2 1/2 cups bread flour and 1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp instant yeast

Filling:

3 tbsp softened butter

6 tbsp brown sugar

Cinnamon powder

Egg wash - beat egg lightly

Egg glaze - 1 egg yolk plus 1 tbsp water

Decorations - red and green glazed cherries

Powdered/confectioner's' sugar 

METHOD;

Crack egg into the bowl of the bread machine, add water but hold back about 1 - 2 tbsp to be used for adjusting the texture of the dough.

Add in the pumplin puree, salt, sugar, milk powder, oil and then the flour.

Put the instant yeast on top of the flour.

Choose the dough function and press start.   Check the texture of the dough, adjust with the reserved water or if too wet add flour.  Allow the bread machine to finish it's function.

When dough is ready, remove from bread machine and divide dough into 4 portions.  Deflate the 4 portions and shape into rounds.  Leave covered with cling wrap for 10 mins.

Take one portion and roll it out into a thin tree shaped.  Repeat with the other 3 portions.

When done, come back to the first portion and roll further so as to shape it nicely.

Spread 1 tbsp of softened butter all over the surface, top with sprinkling of cinnamon powder, lastly top with 2 tbsp of brown sugar.  Spread cinnamon powder and brown sugar evenly over the surface.

Take the second portion of rolled shaped tree and roll this portion to fit the first portion.  Put it on top of the first portion, then repeat spreading the softened butter, cinnamon powder and brown sugar.

Repeat with the other 2 remaining portions of dough.

When finished all 4 layers, put christmas shaped tree onto a lined half-sheet pan.  Using a knife cut 1 inch strips horizontally from the middle of tree to the edge.  Make same numbers of 1 inch horizontal strips on the other side of tree.

Now take one of the strips, seal the ends and twist, press down the ends to the sheet pan.  Continue to twist the rest of the strips...

Brush twisted tree branches and all over the surface of tree with egg wash, then top decorations with red and green glazed cherries.

Cover lightly with cling wrap and leave bread in a large bag to proof for about 30 - 40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 f and when bread has doubled in size.  Brush bread surface again with the egg glaze before putting to bake for 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Enjoy ,  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year