Garlic Pull-Apart Bread Wreath

Heather Berryhill is back with us this afternoon with a holiday inspired recipe. In today's Cooking Corner she shows us how to make a garlic pull apart bread wreath.

INGREDIENTS:

1. 4-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2. 2 packets instant yeast
3. 1 teaspoon kosher salt
4. 1 cup warm whole milk
5. 2/3 cup warm heavy cream
6. 3 tablespoons honey
7. 1 large egg, at room temperature
8. 2 tablespoons Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter, at room temperature
9. To Make Garlic Butter:
10. 1 stick (8 tablespoons) Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter, at room temperature
11. 2-3 cloves garlic, grated, use to your taste
12. 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
13. 2 tablespoons dried parsley
14. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
15. or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
16. flaky sea salt
17. fresh thyme

DIRECTIONS

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the warm milk, warm heavy cream, honey, the egg, and 2 tablespoons butter. Using the dough hook, mix until the flour is completely incorporated, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough seems sticky, add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. To make the garlic butter. Combine the butter, garlic, parmesan, parsley, sage, and a pinch of salt together in a small bowl.
3. Transfer the dough to a work surface and cut into 4 equal pieces. Working with 1 dough piece at a time, roll into a large rectangle (roughly 14x10 inches) on a lightly floured surface. Spread 1/4th of the garlic butter over the dough, then cut lengthwise into 3 strips. Cut the strips crosswise into 4 strips each, making 12 squares. Stack all 12 dough squares, 1 on top of the other. Repeat with remaining 3 dough pieces and remaining garlic butter. Arrange stacks in a lightly buttered tube pan, standing up like books, allowing gaps between dough pieces.
4. Cover the pan with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until the dough almost reaches the top, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
5. Transfer to the oven and bake until the bread is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let stand in the pan 5 minutes, then carefully remove. Brush with additional melted butter, if desired, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.