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Allerheiligenstriezel
Braided sweet loaf
Allerheiligenstriezel: Bavarian and Austrian braided All Saints' loaf for godchildren
In Bavaria and Austria, godparents give their godchildren an Allerheiligenstriezel on All Saints' Day, 1 November: a large braided loaf of sweet yeast dough, brushed with egg and scattered with almonds or pearl sugar. The braid is said to recall the old custom of cutting a plait of hair in mourning, and the size of the loaf once showed how generous the godparent was. It is lightly sweet, with lemon and vanilla, and is eaten sliced with butter or jam. Some recipes add rum-soaked raisins; these are soaked in warm water instead. Chef's tip: braid four strands for an impressive, high loaf.
- Total time
- 85 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 1 cup milklukewarm
- 1 ¼ lb strong white flour
- 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 2 ⅞ oz buttersoft
- 1 lemonzest only
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ⅞ oz raisinssoaked in warm water, drained
- 1 eggbeaten
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ¼ lb strong white flour, ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast, 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar, 1 tsp salt and 1 lemon. Add 1 cup milk, 2 egg yolks, 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract and knead for 8 minutes, then knead in 2 ⅞ oz butter for 5 minutes. Knead in 2 ⅞ oz raisins at the end.
15 minStep 2: Cover and leave for 1½ hours, until doubled.
Step 3: Divide into 4 equal pieces and roll into ropes 50 cm long. Pinch them together at the top and braid: take the right-hand strand over two, under one; repeat from each side. Tuck the ends under.
10 minStep 4: Set on a lined tray, cover and leave for 45 minutes, until puffy.
Step 5: Brush with 1 egg and sprinkle with 1 oz flaked almonds or pearl sugar. Bake at 350°F (300°F fan) for 35–40 minutes, until deep golden; the base should sound hollow. A common mistake is a dry braid from overbaking: check after 35 minutes.
38 minStep 6: Cool on a rack.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does allerheiligenstriezel take?
- About 85 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
- Fresh yeast, three times the weight.
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