Holiday Recipe--Festive Yule Loaf

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour, divided
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 package yeast
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped candied red and green cherries
1/2 cup chopped pecan
Vanilla glaze (recipe follows)

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Heat milk and butter over medium heat until very warm. Gradually stir into flour mixture. Add egg. Mix with mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Toss raisins, cherries and pecans with 1/4 cup flour in a small bowl; stir into the yeast mixture. Stir in enough of the remaining 1 cup flour to make a soft dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl; turn to grease top of dougn. Cover with towel. Let rise in warm, draft-free place about 1 hour or until double in volume.
Punch dough down. divide in half. Roll out each half on lightly floured surface to form an 8 inch circle. Fold in half; press only folded edge firmly. Place on ungreased cooky sheet. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place about 30 minutes or until double in volume.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely on wire rack. Frost with vanilla glaze, if desired. Store in airtight containers. Makes 2 loaves.

VANILLA GLAZE: Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 4 to 5 teaspoons light cream or half and half and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl, stir until smooth. Use on Festive Yule Loaf.