Viennese Easter Braid Recipe
Ingredients
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
2 tablespoons rum
2 1/2-3 cups flour
1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
3 1/2 tablespoons slivered almonds
1 white uncooked egg
Confectioners' sugar, if desired
Glaze
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Directions
1 Soak raisins and citron in rum in small bowl for 30 minutes.
2 Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and yeast in mixing bowl. Heat sugar, salt, butter, and milk to hot (120°-130°F).
3 Combine flour mixture, milk mixture, and eggs. Mix thoroughly.
4 Add 2 tablespoons almonds, soaked fruit, and enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth€”about 10 minutes.
5 Place in greased bowl, turning to coat top. Cover; let rise in warm place until double€”about 1 1/2 hours.
6 Punch down dough. Let rise until double€”about 1 hour. (This is the second rising.)
7 Punch down dough. Divide in 3 equal pieces. Braid; place on greased baking sheet.
8 Make glaze and brush on loaf. Place uncooked egg in center of braid. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.
9 Cover. Let rise in warm place until double€”about 30 minutes.
10 Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 45 minutes or until done. Cool on wire rack. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar.
2 Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and yeast in mixing bowl. Heat sugar, salt, butter, and milk to hot (120°-130°F).
3 Combine flour mixture, milk mixture, and eggs. Mix thoroughly.
4 Add 2 tablespoons almonds, soaked fruit, and enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth€”about 10 minutes.
5 Place in greased bowl, turning to coat top. Cover; let rise in warm place until double€”about 1 1/2 hours.
6 Punch down dough. Let rise until double€”about 1 hour. (This is the second rising.)
7 Punch down dough. Divide in 3 equal pieces. Braid; place on greased baking sheet.
8 Make glaze and brush on loaf. Place uncooked egg in center of braid. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.
9 Cover. Let rise in warm place until double€”about 30 minutes.
10 Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 45 minutes or until done. Cool on wire rack. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar.