Here’s my own take on a traditional Czechoslovakian bread: Vanocka. This is not a traditional version since I’ve swapped out some of the spices and traded dried cranberries for raisins, but you could use either. This recipe is great for the dough stage in a bread maker. The bread is really tender and because its braided, it makes a nice pull-apart bread. It’s sweet and flavorful and really pretty so it’s great for a holiday or any special meal. It’s best enjoyed the day you bake it, but if you have some leftovers, you can use it the following day for amazing french toast!
Ingredients:
2/3 cup milk 1 tbsp yeast
1 egg 1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup softened butter 1 egg yolk + 1 tsp water
1 tsp salt 2 tbsp slivered almonds
1/4 tsp ginger confectioners sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp grated orange peel
3 cups flour
1/4 cup of sugar
To start, I warm the milk (not hot) and let it sit in my mixing bowl with a bit of the sugar and all the yeast. Allow it to proof for about 5 minutes then add the rest of the sugar and all the other ingredients (minus the cranberries, almonds, confectioners sugar and egg wash mixture) Mix on dough stage in a bread machine, by hand or in a stand mixer with a dough hook. If using a mixture or by hand, cover bowl and dough with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm area until doubled. If you’re using a bread machine, it will do the first rise for you.
When dough has doubled, beat down and kneed for several minutes on a floured surface. This is when you will mix in the cranberries. Cut the dough into three equal parts and roll each portion until it’s aprx. 14 inches long (this is also a variation on the traditional version as I use a simplified braiding technique.) Braid the ropes, pinch ends together and place on a baking stone. Loosely cover bread & place in a warm spot to double once more.
Preheat your oven to 375. Brush the braided dough with the egg wash and sprinkle the slivered almonds. Bake until golden-brown (aprx. 30 minutes, but it varies) and a wooden skewer comes out clean.
Cool slightly, sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and enjoy!
DD#2 was asking to make bread this weekend! We are going to try it!
Love, Ashley
Its a fun one for kids! My kiddos liked rolling out the strips for braiding. I should say *attempting* to roll out the strips 😉
Wow, you’re so domestic! 😉 I haven’t made bread in several years. When I worked from home, it was a lot easier to pop the stuff in the breadmaker and keep checking on it. Now? Not so much. I’m too tired when I get home! 😛 Sounds delicious, though. And now I’m hungry.
Morning, Lindsay! I know what you mean. After having the baby, I hardly had time and energy to bake. I’m just starting at it again…but in the meantime…thank God for bakeries! 😉
I’m so excited to try it this weekend!! Thanks for sharing with us! You are such a great wife and mom! A true treasure!
Aw, thanks Jenn!! I hope you and the kids have fun making it. It will make your house smell heavenly when it’s baking.
I LOVE braided breads! And, as my husband’s family come from a Czechoslovakian background, I love this recipe even more. Thanks for sharing. My mouth is watering already 🙂
Thanks, Dorothy! Braided breads really are fun! Mine is pretty simplified. When compared, the traditional is so intricate and comes out so beautiful when baked. But fortunately, the taste is universally delish 😀
Wow – looks and sounds super yummy! I adore bread. 🙂
me too 😀
Oo- this sounds yummy! I love holiday breads.
Thanks, Rosslyn! I do too. There is something special about holiday breads 🙂
Thank you, Joanne, this sounds really yummy. I have everything on hand except for the almonds ~ I do have some almond meal that is ground like a flour my daughter gave me. So, I guess that will work. Yay! Will try out my bread hook for my mixture I haven’t ever used. Keep it washed up. <3 k.
Kathleen,
I hope you enjoy it! I made it just this Christmas for our brunch and everyone enjoyed it. I didn’t have an orange, so I just used lemon zest. 🙂 You could use any nut, or even just leave it out! That’s the nice thing about it, being able to swap out ingredients. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you for this great recipe !!! I can’t wait to share with my Wendy and my daughters in laws !!!! This is wonderful !!! have a blessed day !!
Rosemary,
It’s so wonderful to see you here! Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy baking with your girls! I hope you and your family had a happy Christmas!!