This called vanocka in Czech republic .They usually prepare it both at Christmas and to commemorate special occasions. According to sources it is an ancient bread, it is said that the braiding was done to protect people from the forces of evil.
Still this christmas braided bread is a main dessert in czech during holidays .
Total time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Preparation time: 150 minutes
Bake time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
Soaking raisins
90 gr of white grapes
1/2 cup of wine or rum or orange juice
For the bread
500 gr of wheat flour
10 gr of dry yeast ( or 30 gr of fresh yeast)
80 gr of sugar
1 pinch of nutmeg
1/4 tsp of cardamom paste
225 ml of milk
1/4 teaspoon of salt
zest of 1 lemon
90 gr of clarified butter ,ghee (can be substituted for melted unsalted butter)
3 egg yolks
80 gr of candied lemon
To decorate
1 egg white + 1 teaspoon of water
almonds
"PREPARATION"
A day before soak the grapes in dry wine or rum (it can be soaked for about 30 minutes, but it looks much better from one day to the next).
In a saucepan heat half the milk without boiling. Apart in a small cup, mix the yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of flour and pour half of the warm milk. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand 10 minutes, until a foam forms. Reserve.
Sift the flour (reserving a little for later), add the sugar, salt, lemon zest, nutmeg, cardamom and lemon zest. Add the foam and mix a little, then add the egg yolks and begin to knead, then add the ghee and the rest of the flour and knead a little.
Knead for about 6 minutes and then add the lemon and the grapes hydrated in rum or white wine. Knead well again for another 4 minutes, form a ball, cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 hour.
After the hour, in my case I made 2 braids. Separate the dough into two parts and reserve one. (If you want to do a full braid skip this first part). After having one of the halves form a ball again and separate it into 4 and then each quarter in half so that we will obtain 8 parts.
If the 8 parts that we have, take 4 and begin to form the braid . Then take three parts and put together the second braid. And finally the part that we have left we divide in two and we connect the last two parts. So we will get a braid of 4 parts, one of 3 and one of 2.
Prepare a tray with waxed paper, or roll the surface of the tray with butter and flour. Put the largest braid in the middle apply a little pressure in the middle, brush with egg white and water and put the medium braid on the large one, brush again and put the small braid on the second, brush again and repeat the process for the other braid. Sprinkle sliced almonds and leave to rise for 1 hour.
Note: toothpicks are attached to the braids to check them whether firm or not during baking.
Preheat the oven to 180ºC .Bake for 45-55 minutes (depending on the oven), check until lightly browned. Put to cool on a rack and enjoy.
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