Austrian Vanocka

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Contents 1 Description 1.1 Ingredients 1.2 Directions 1.3 Other Links 2 See also 3 Comments

Description

A Czech christmas bread baked in northern Austria. Makes one very large loaf or three smaller ones

Ingredients

• 2 pkgs Dry Yeast
• 1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
• 3/4 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 6 to 7 cups flour
• 1 stick Butter, melted
• 3 beaten eggs
• 3 tbsp grated Orange Rind (I use just the orange part, rubbed off on a grater, so it takes two medium oranges to give me enough)
• 2 tsp Almond Extract
• 1 tsp Nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup each, golden and dark Raisins
• 1 cup slivered Almonds

Directions

• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
• Add the milk and Sugar and let stand until the surface becomes foamy in about 5 minutes.
• Stir in three cups of the flour, butter, eggs, orange peel, almond extract, nutmeg, and the salt.
• Beat until very smooth.
• Add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and knead for 5 to 8 minutes while adding the raisins and almonds a little at a time.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and turn it over once or twice to coat it with grease.
• Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper and set it in a warm, quiet place until it has risen to double its size (about 1 hour).
• Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured board and divide it into threes
• Divide each piece into thirds and, with your hands, roll each into a rope about twenty inches long.
• Braid the threes.
• For one loaf, put the biggest braid onto a lightly-greased baking sheet, the bigger braid on top, and the big braid on top of that.
• For three loaves, arrange the three (equal) braids separately on the lightly greased baking sheet.
• Let rise again for about an hour.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 yo 60 minutes.
• Check at 45 minutes by tapping on the loaf.
• If it is done, it will sound hollow.

Other Links

See also