Golden Santa Bread

(Courtesy of Taste of Home)

Ingredients:
4-4 1/2 c. bread flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 pkgs. (1/4 oz. each) active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. butter, cubed
2 eggs
2 raisins
2 egg yolks
2-3 drops red food coloring

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine 2 c. flour, sugar, yeast and salt.  In a small saucepan, heat milk, water and butter to 120-130 degrees.  Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened.  Beat in eggs until smooth.  Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Punch dough down.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into two portions, one slightly larger than the other.

Shape the larger portion into an elongated triangle with rounded corners for Santa's head and hat.

Divide the smaller portion in half.  Shape and flatten one half into a beard.  Using scissors or a pizza cutter, cut into strips to within 1 inch of top.  Position on Santa's face; twist and curl strips if desired.

Use the remaining dough for the mustache, nose, hat pom-pom and brim.  Shape a portion of dough into a mustache; flatten and cut the ends into small strips with scissors.  Place above beard.  Place a small ball above mustache for nose.  Fold tip of hat over and add another ball for pom-pom.  Roll out a narrow piece of dough to create a hat brim; position under hat.

With a scissors, cut two slits for eyes; insert raisins into slits.  In separate small bowls, beat egg each yolk.  Add red food coloring to one yolk; carefully brush over hat, nose and cheeks.  Brush plain yolk over remaining dough.

Cover loosely with foil.  Bake 15 minutes.  Uncover; bake 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack.