Christmas Bread

If you lived close to me I would bring each of you what has become one of our traditional recipes. This braided bread isn't overly sweet, but the almond-flavored filling is so scrumpdiliumptious it's almost intoxicating. It is very easy and makes 6 loaves, but our family never wants to give any away. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

2 cubes margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups warm milk
2 pkgs. yeast (2 Tbsp) dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water & 1 Tbsp sugar. (Let stand 5 minutes.)
1 tsp salt
2 eggs (beaten)
6 C flour +

*The creme filling below needs to cool after cooking, so allow time for that in the beginning.

Mix margarine and sugar in bowl and pour milk over it. Let stand while making yeast mixture. Add eggs and yeast. Mix. Add flour and salt. Beat with wooden spoon (not sure what that is about) - no kneading. Cover with cloth and let raise for 1 1/2 hours. Punch down and let raise 45 more minutes. Separate into 6 balls. Roll out to a rectangle shape about 12" long each. Divide toppings out on to each dough shape--fill with fillings and nut mixture. Cut and cross over for a braid. Let raise 30 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. (the bread will rise considerably in the oven, and then will sink down again when it cools) I lay three across the width of a cookie sheet and cook one sheet at a time.

*CREME FILLING:
1 cup milk
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla

Combine first 5 ingredients and heat in microwave, watching carefully and stirring until smooth and creamy, then add vanilla. Let cool, spoon onto dough.

ALMOND FILLING:
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp almond ext
1 cup sugar

Combine and put on top of creme filling.

NUT MIXTURE:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped nuts

Mix all together. Put some on top of fillings (save some for the top of bread.) Brush w/egg whites (beaten lightly) on top of bread. Sprinkle with nut mixture.