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Festive Bread Wreath with Gruyere Cheese Dip

My rich and creamy Festive Bread Wreath with Gruyere Cheese Dip is the perfect centre piece for your Christmas gathering this year.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Proofing time1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bread, Cheese, christmas, Dip, festive, gathering, party, starter
Servings: 8 People
Author: Lee

Equipment

  • Stand mixer
  • Ovenproof dish

Ingredients

Gruyere Cheese Dip

  • 130 g Gruyere Cheese, grated
  • 130 g Creme fraise, reduced fat
  • 20 g Mayonnaise, reduced fat
  • 160 g Artichoke hearts (I used Tesco’s antipasti section in oil), drained and roughly chopped
  • 30 g Baby spinach, finely shredded
  • 15 g Curley kale, finely shredded
  • 1 pinch Pepper
  • 1 pinch Cayenne pepper

Festive Bread Wreath

  • 500 g Strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 7 g Fast acting yeast
  • 300 ml Tepid water
  • 30 ml Olive oil, plus extra for rolling
  • 10 g Runny honey
  • 1 tsp Fine sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 220C, 200 fan, Gas mark 6.
  • Pop all the bread ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer. Roughly mix the ingredients together with a spoon. Attach the dough hook and knead on a low speed for 5 minutes, until you have a soft, smooth and stretchy dough.
    Mixer
  • Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm place for an hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
    Doubled in size
  • When the dough is ready, tip it onto a lightly oiled surface. Knock the dough back by punching it flat. 
    Knock back the dough
  • Cut the dough into three equal pieces. Use the palm of your hands to roll the dough into three uniform strips. The strips should be slightly longer than the circular dish you are using for the cheese dip.
    Dough strips
  • Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Lightly flour the baking paper and place a circular ovenproof dish in the centre. Plait the three strips of dough. Carefully lift the plaited dough and wrap around the dish. Cut off any overlapping dough and match up the two ends. You want a continuous circle of plaited dough. Don’t worry if the joint looks a bit messy, the dough will rise and fuse together.
    Platted dough
  • Cover the dough with an oiled piece of cling film. Place in a warm place for 30-40 minutes until it has doubled in size. 
    Platted dough wreath
  • Meanwhile mix 100g of the Gruyere Cheese with the rest of the cheese dip ingredients together in a bowl. Tip the cheese mixture into the oven proof dish and sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere cheese.
    Festive Bread Wreath Dough
  • When the dough has doubled in size lightly dust with flour. Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the dough is golden and sounds hollow when tapped. 
    Festive Bread Wreath with Gruyere Cheese Dip Is best served straight away.
    Festive Bread Wreath with Gruyere Cheese Dip