Italian Christmas Bread with Eggnog Glaze

Recipe By Nancy Ann R.
Rating
Published Jun 19th
Prep 25m Cook 45m Additional 2h Ready In 3h 10m
Servings 1 2-pound loaf Calories 195.2

My husband fondly recalls the Anise Bread that his Italian grandmother used to make during the holidays. She evidently never had a recipe (and never used a bread machine!) so this is what I came up with for a quick, special Christmas bread. This rich bread has a wonderful aroma while baking.

Recipe Ingredients

  • ½ cup hazelnuts
  • 1 cup eggnog, plus
  • 1 tablespoon eggnog
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 2 tablespoons anise seed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon eggnog

Cooking Directions

  1. 1 Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. 2 Spread hazelnuts evenly on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer the nuts to a bowl, and let them cool.
  3. 3 Place the eggnog, sugar, salt, butter, egg, egg yolk, bread flour, yeast, anise seed, and cinnamon into the bread machine. Program the machine for a basic cycle with the crust as "medium." Press start. Do not use the delay timer.
  4. 4 Place the cooled toasted hazelnuts into the machine between Knead Cycle 1 and Knead Cycle 2. When the baking cycle ends, immediately remove the bread from the pan and allow it to cool on a rack.
  5. 5 Prepare the glaze by combining the confectioners' sugar and eggnog in a bowl; mix well. It should be a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the glaze on the cooled bread before slicing.

Nutrition Facts

  • Calories 195.2
  • Carbohydrate 28 g
  • Cholesterol 39.3 mg
  • Fat 7.2 g
  • Fiber 1.3 g
  • Protein 5.2 g
  • Saturated Fat 2.6 g
  • Sodium 102.9 mg
  • Sugar 7.2 g

Reviews

  1. Shawndee Looney Feb 12, 2021 12:20 PM
    Favorite bread!! So good!
  2. Remi Randall Oct 20, 2014 04:23 AM
    Great flavor. However I took out the anise seeds and cinnamon as I like neither. But oh so wonderful. And don't forget the amazing eggnog glaze!
  3. Lindamary Nov 6, 2011 10:33 PM
    I made this and it was amazing! A little bit challenging though for a novice baker like myself.
  4. ironchefmels Dec 22, 2010 07:35 PM
    Amazing fresh out of the machine! The Glaze makes it. It didn't mention but I slightly chopped the nuts with their skins on (I had trouble skinning them) all turned out well.
  5. sueb Dec 27, 2009 12:23 AM
    Great taste both of bread and of frosting! The bread texture is smooth even with half of the flour as whole wheat. Great recipe!
  6. Lori M. Vilagos Dec 21, 2009 10:10 PM
    Everyone loved this bread and the glaze was an extra special touch! I loved it warmed with honey butter!
  7. Joanie Dec 17, 2009 11:21 PM
    This bread is so delicious and easy to make. I was afraid the with 2 T. of anise seed it would be a bit too much spice but it turned out so good!
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