Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (2024)

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My mother loves any Sweet Bread made with yeast dough. Especially at Easter. This year (after watching far too many episodes of the British Baking Challenge) I decided that I would try something fancy. A Hefezopf. This Hefezopf Recipe is an adaptation of Luisa Weiss’s “Rosinenzopf ” recipe from her fantastic cookbook Classic German Baking.Don’t be intimidated by the Yeast, or kneading. The dough comes together beautifully in the mixer… and as for the kneading? I usually have around 10 minutes of aggression in me to take out on some dough.

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (1)

When I pulled out the ingredients, I was a bit irked to discover that we are out of raisins. I don’t mind, I’m not a big fan of the things, but Tech Guy loves them (he must have snacked them all away). Rather than leave the fruit out, I chopped up some dried cranberries. Maybe they aren’t “traditional” but they are quite yummy. In the back of my pantry I found the box of Hagel Zucker that I brought home from my last trip to Germany. (See…. filling up my suitcase at the grocery store in Germany does have its advantages… you never know when you will NEED it, but it’s nice to have when you do. ) This means I was able to sprinkle the crust with crunchy bits of sugar to add just an extra touch of sweetness. YUM. Don’t have Hagel Zucker (Pearl Sugar)? you can order them here–> Hagel Zucker, or use sliced almonds.

At Easter, you can use this same basic recipe and braid into a wreath shape to fill with colored Eggs… or even bake Hard Cooked Colored Eggs into the braids. (That will be something for me to try next.) A Hefezopf wreath makes a beautiful centerpiece on the Easter Breakfast table.

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (2)

But any day you make the Hefezopf recipe, you can serve it up with some good German butter and delicious jam for a wonderful breakfast treat or mid-day snack. Or just eat it plain. (I find that even though I stored the bread in a plastic zipper bag, it did dry out a bit overnight… so the extra butter schmeared on it helps… especially for palates who are used to softer, sweeter baked goods).

Hefezopf Recipe

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (3)

Hefezopf Recipe

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Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Milk
  • 500 gr / approx 4 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 50 gr / 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 2 tsp Rapid Rise Yeast
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Lemon Zest- approx 1 lemon worth
  • 6 TBL Butter at room temp.
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/2 cup Raisins/Cranberries
  • For Finishing-
  • 1 Egg Yolk
  • 1 tsp Whole Milk
  • Few Tbl. Hagel Zucker / Pearl Sugar
  • OR
  • Few Tbl. Sliced Almonds

Instructions

  • Warm the milk up a little. (I stuck my finger in it, it felt warm, and it worked. You don't want it too hot, it will kill the yeast)

  • In your mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, rapid rise yeast, salt, and the lemon peel.

  • In another bowl (I just used a measuring cup) combine the milk and eggs.. give them a quick mix.

  • Add the milk/egg mixture to the flour/sugar mix... then slice in the room temperature butter.

  • Mix until it all comes together in a sticky dough.

  • Dump the dough blob out onto a floured surface.

  • Now comes the work. Don't cheat!

  • Knead the dough for 10 15 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic. (Note- even though I have a dough hook on my mixer, I did this by hand. I presume it can be done on the dough hook as well, I just chose to use it as a work out). Add a sprinkle of flour if the dough is too sticky.

  • Put the kneaded dough into a clean bowl, and cover with a dishcloth or plastic. Let rise 1 hour in a draft-free warm spot. It should double in size.

  • When the dough has risen, dump it out of the bowl and onto the counter.

  • Shape it a little flat, and add the raisins/cranberries.

  • Fold the dough over the fruits, then knead them in to distribute.

  • Cut the dough into 3 equal pieces (I actually weighed them out... )

  • Roll the pieces into 16 inch strands.

  • Lay them next to each other, squish them together at one end, then braid the length of the strand. Press the other end so they stay together, and tuck up under the end.

  • Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper

  • Place the braided loaf on the parchment paper, cover with a cloth, and let it rise for 20 minutes in a warm, draft-free space.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • When the dough has risen, check to see if any of the raisins/cranberries are sticking out. Poke them in a bit, or remove them if they are.

  • Combine an Egg Yolk and 1 Tbl. Milk in a small bowl... really mix it until its not separate looking. Use a pastry brush, and brush the whole braid.

  • Sprinkle with Hagel Zucker/Pearl Sugar or Sliced Almonds.

  • Bake for 25 minutes, then check. If it's getting too brown at this point, lay a piece of foil over the loaf.

  • Bake an additional 5 minutes.

  • Cool on a rack

  • Best served the same day, but you can wrap it tightly to store for another day.

Notes

I baked the bread using 2% milk, and regular American butter. (I used what I had in the refrigerator). The original recipe calls for WHOLE Milk and European HIGH FAT butter. I imagine the flavor would be richer, and the taste moister with the addition of the extra fat. And it would be better the next day

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Use a SCALE to Measure Ingredients

One Kitchen tool I’ve come to depend on, especially when baking German Recipes, is my kitchen scale. Honestly, they aren’t expensive, and the results really are better. For example, this recipe uses 4 cups of flour… by weight this should be 500 grams. 500 grams NEVER changes, 4 cups is different every time you measure it out… depending on how the flour settles, and how moist the air is. It’s just more accurate when you usea scale.

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (7)Pohl Schmitt Mechanical/Digital Food Kitchen Scale – Multi-Transducer Scale for Greater Precision with Auto Shut-Off (Batt. Incl.), BlackHefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (8)

Step By Step- Hefezopf Recipe

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (9)

Mix the ingredients until the dough comes together… knead for 10 – 15 minutes

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (10)

Place the kneaded dough in a mixing bowl, cover and let rise in a draft-free spot for an hour

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (11)

Carefully knead in the Raisins/Cranberries

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (12)

Divide dough into 3 equal portions … roll those pieces into 16 inch strands … then braid

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (13)

Place the Braided Loaf on a parchment covered sheet-pan. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (14)

Brush the risen braid with a egg yolk/milk wash… then sprinkle with Hagel Zucker/Pearl Zucker or Sliced Almonds

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (15)

Bake 25 minutes, then check if it’s getting too dark. Cover with foil if it is. Bake another 5 minutes (30 total)

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (16)

Let the loaf finish cooling on a rack

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (17)

Slice and serve

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (18)

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (19)

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (20)

Hefezopf Recipe- An Easy and Delicious Braided German Sweet Bread (2024)

FAQs

What is the name of the sweet braided bread? ›

Challah is often cited as one of the most popular Jewish foods. A delicious, braided egg bread served on Shabbat, traditionally by Ashkenazi communities, it is clear that challah has been heavily influenced by other European braided breads.

How do you make bread rise higher? ›

Consider vitamin C

Vitamin C strengthens the gluten in flour, which can give a better rise, and help dough to rise more quickly. You probably won't need it if you're making white bread, but if you make wholemeal bread and it doesn't rise as well as you hoped, you could try a little vitamin C next time.

What are the hardest breads to make? ›

Sourdough bread is difficult to make because it requires a sourdough starter, which is a complex mixture of flour and water that must be carefully maintained and fed over time. The bread also requires a long fermentation process, typically between 12-24 hours, to develop its unique flavor and texture.

What is Italian Easter bread made of? ›

In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the yeast, cooled milk, salt, softened butter, eggs and sugar. Mix until just combined. Add half the flour and beat until smooth using the dough hook of your mixer. (Do not use the paddle attachment or whip.)

What is the braided bread eaten by Jews? ›

Many of us think of challah as a braided loaf of eggy, shiny, slightly sweet bread. But the term “challah” doesn't have anything to do with a bread's appearance or even a specific kind of bread. Instead, it's any kind of bread (lechem) that has been sanctified in a certain way.

What country does braided bread come from? ›

Challah (/ˈxɑːlə/, Hebrew: חַלָּה ḥallā [χa'la] or Hallah [ħɑl'la]; plural: challot, Challoth or challos, also berches in Central Europe) is a special bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and major Jewish holidays (other than Passover).

Does adding more yeast make bread fluffier? ›

Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.

What is the secret to making homemade bread? ›

Try a thermometer. For the best bread, controlling the temperature of the dough is just as important as proper ingredient measurements or good scoring. A dough that is too cold won't ferment at a rate that produces good volume, strength, or flavor.

How do you make homemade bread fluffier? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

What is the most delicious bread in the world? ›

World's best breads: the list of winners
  • Butter garlic naan (India)
  • Nan-e barbari (Iran)
  • Pan de yuca (Colombia)
  • Focaccia di Recco col formaggio (Italy)
  • Baguette (France)
  • Naan (India)
  • Piadina Romagnola (Italy)
  • Tarte flambée (France)
Oct 4, 2023

What is the hardest bread to bake in the world? ›

Little did I know that baguettes are considered the most difficult bread to bake, and “the art of artisan breads.” For the first six months, I baked three baguettes every day, generally wondering why anyone would go to all of the trouble.

What food is eaten on Easter Sunday in Italy? ›

PASTA. One of the most popular things Italians eat for Easter is of course pasta. Easter pasta dishes are diverse and vary from the north to the south of Italy, including lasagna, ravioli, risotto and baked pasta. In the Emilia-Romagna region lasagna filled with lamb is the preferred choice.

What is the difference between Italian bread and German bread? ›

Bread is a staple in Italian diets. It is a rarity in Italian culture to have a meal without an accompanying piece of bread. Italian bread differs from German bread because Italian bread has a much more open structure and is made from predominantly white flour.

What do Italian people dip their bread in? ›

We've all been to those Italian restaurants where they serve you fresh bread alongside an olive oil bread dip right? The bread oil becomes the star of the night and you can't stop eating it! Well, the good news is that it's so easy to make at home and it's also super customizable too.

What is the name of a popular Mexican sweet bread? ›

Conchas (Mexican Sweet Bread)

What is the name of the Mexican sweet bread? ›

Conchas are also known as Pan Dulce and Sweet Bread. This Mexican breakfast item is made of a fluffy, butter brioche-like dough topped with a streusel topping that is scored. These colorful Mexican breakfast item is a crowd favorite.

What are the different types of sweetbreads? ›

There are two different types: Neck/throat sweetbreads and heart sweetbreads. The thymus glands are referred to as neck sweetbreads or throat sweetbreads. Because of their shape, sweetbreads from the pancreas gland are also called heart sweetbread.

Is braided brioche the same as challah? ›

The key difference between challah and brioche, per Masterclass, is that brioche is typically made with all three enriched ingredients we mentioned before (eggs, sugar, and butter), but challah often replaces the butter with oil to keep kosher.

References

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