Ingredients
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250 ml lukewarm milk
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21 g fresh yeastor 7g dried yeast
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75 g sugar
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500 g flour
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a pinch of salt
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 egg yolks
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100 g melted butterunsalted butter
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1 glass pitted sour cherries350 g (drained)
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1 egg whites
Directions
Cherry Braided Easter Bread
or my family calls it “Kirsch Osterzopf”. This light sweet braided yeast bread with sour cherries filling give it such a festive look. It is so delightful and one of my favorite recipes to bake for Easter, but it tastes so good all year round and you can enjoy it for breakfast or with your afternoon tea.
Steps
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1
Done
10 minutes
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proof active yeastAdd the yeast, along with 1 Tablespoon sugar into lukewarm milk and stir to combine. Let the yeast rest for 8-10 minutes. |
|
2
Done
10 minutes
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kneadingAdd flour, sugar, salt, vanilla, egg yolk and using a standing mixer or hand mixer, knead on low speed for a couple minutes. Slowly pour in the melted butter and continue knead for about 5 minutes until until a soft and only slightly sticky dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Note: You can mix and knead it up without using an electric mixer, and it might take a little longer. (People used to do it by hand back in the day, and it’s just as easy now as it was then) |
|
3
Done
1 hour
|
first proveTransfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand to form into a ball. Place dough back into lightly floured bowl and cover with lid or a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours until doubled in size. |
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4
Done
10 mins
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shapingDrain sour cherries from the juices. Roll the dough into a 45cm x 35 cm rectangle. |
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5
Done
45 minutes
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second proveDivide the dough into 3 equal long strip pieces. Place 1/3 cherries on the middle of each strip. Fold the strips over and press firmly on the edges. so they formed into rolls. Transfer braided dough to a lined baking sheet. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about 25-30 minutes. |
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6
Done
30 minutes
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bakingPreheat oven to 180°C. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. |
