Cinnamon Swirl Pear Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups pears, chopped and peeled
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, plus
• 1 teaspoon sugar, divided
• 3 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115)
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 10 -11 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 combine the pears, 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar in a saucepan. simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes or until tender.
• 2 drain well, but reserve the syrup. add cold water, if necessary, to syrup to measure 1 cup; set aside.
• 3 in a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. add 1 tsp sugar; let stand for 10 minutes.
• 4 add eggs, butter, honey, salt, almond extract, 4 cups of flour and reserved pears and syrup. beat until smooth.
• 5 add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough. turn onto a floured surface, knead for 6-8 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
• 6 place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 1/4 hours, or until doubled.
• 7 punch dough down, divide into thirds. roll each portion into a 16 x 8 inch rectangle. combine cinnamon and 3/4 cup sugar, sprinkle over dough within 1/2 inch of edges.
• 8 roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seams to seal.
• 9 place seam side down, in 3 greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• 10 bake 375 for 20 minutes, and then cover loosely with foil. bake 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until bread tests done.
• 11 let loaves cool on wire racks.