Christmas Tree Bread

Ingredients:

4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 envelope (1/2 ounce or 4 1/2 tsp) Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg, large

Cinnamon Filling:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Maraschino cherries, optional

Method:

In a large bowl, combine 1 1/3 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt. Heat milk, water, and butter until very warm (120 to 130 F). Gradually add to dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg and 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.

Prepare cinnamon filling. In a bowl, cut 1/2 cup butter into 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons sugar until crumbly. Stir in 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Set aside.