Martha Washington's Fan Recipe

Martha Washington's Fan Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Be the first to write a review

Rate recipe

Easter morning would not be the same at our house without this bread. The impressive loaves also make nice Christmas gifts.—Susan Peck, Springfield, Missouri

This recipe is:

Contest Winning

[X]

Rate Martha Washington's Fan Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

Martha Washington's Fan Recipe

Prep: 40 min. + rising Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Yield: 30 Servings

40 20 60

Ingredients

6 to 7 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups warm water (120° to 130°)
3 eggs
FILLING:
6 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
1-1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
ICING:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, dry milk, yeast and salt. Add butter and water; beat on low for 2 minutes. Add eggs; beat on high for 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Roll one portion into a 20-in. x 6-in. rectangle, with a short side facing you. Brush top two-thirds of dough with 1 tablespoon melted butter. In a bowl, combine the coconut, pecans and brown sugar; blend in 3 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle a third of the mixture over buttered portion of dough. STarting at the plain short side, fold dough over half of filling; fold over again. Pinch edges and end to seal.
Place on a greased baking sheet with folded edge facing away from you. With scissors, cut into eight strips to within 1 in. from folded edge. Separate strips slightly; twist to allow filling to show. Pinch ends into points. Repeat with remaining dough and filling to make two more fans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over fans. Yield: 3 loaves.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 slice) equals 250 calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 39 mg cholesterol, 186 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Martha Washington's Fan in Country Woman March/April 1998, p31