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Jolly Snowman Bread

Invite your kids to shape this classic white bread dough into snowmen. When the snowmen are baked, the kids can tie on ribbon scarves and present their edible sculptures to teachers and friends.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons brown sugar
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup warm water
1 1/4-ounce package active dry yeast
pinch of sugar

1 1/2 cups warm milk
4 tablespoons softened butter
raisins
dried apricots
gumdrops

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Set aside.
Pour the warm water (bathwater temperature, or around 100º F) into a large bowl and sprinkle in the yeast and a pinch of sugar. Stir and let the mix sit for 5 minutes, until bubbles begin to appear.
Stir in the warm milk, butter, and 2 cups of the dry ingredients. Stir in the remaining dry ingredients 1 cup at a time, mixing until the dough is stiff.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured countertop and knead for 5 to 10 minutes or until the dough becomes smooth and springs back when touched.
Grease a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and cover it with a dish towel. Let the dough rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured countertop. Divide it into 4 pieces (1 for each snowman).
Cut off the top third of each piece and shape it into the snowman's head; shape the larger piece into a ball for the body.
Place the 2 balls on a baking sheet and pinch them together. Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of dough until you have 4 snowmen. Cover and let them rise for 30 to 45 minutes.
Heat the oven to 350º F. Brush the snowmen with milk and adorn with raisin eyes, a dried apricot nose, and gumdrop buttons. Cover the fruit and gumdrops with small pieces of aluminum foil so they won't burn, then bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool on racks. Tie a ribbon around each snowman's neck for a scarf. To present, wrap in plastic before adding the scarf. Makes 4 snowmen.