Viennese Striesel
This is a festive, slightly sweet bread that is wonderful for a holiday breakfast of brunch. Can easily be made a day or two ahead
- Total Time: 6 hours
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
Scale
Ingredients
- Basic Sweet Dough
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup very warm water
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbs shortening, melted (I used butter)
- 2 3/4 – 3 cups flour
- 1 egg
- Striesel
- 1/4 cup seedless raisins
- 1/4 cup candied cherries, chopped
- 2 tbs candied orange peel, chopped
- 1/8 tsp mace
- 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tbs milk
- almonds or walnuts for sprinkling
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in warm water.
- Scald milk.
- Put milk, sugar, shortening, salt in bowl of mixer. Cool until just warm.
- Add in 1 cup of flour, mix until combined.
- Mix in dissolved yeast.
- Whisk egg and add to dough.
- Add 1 1/2 cups flour and mix well.
- Add fruit, mace, and mix well.
- Add remaining flour (2 3/4 cups total) and knead until smooth and satiny. I used my stand mixer and dough hook up to this point, the dough was still sticky.I added about 1/4 more flour, kneading by hand.
- Shape into a ball, place in lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled, about 2 1/4 hours.
- Punch down. Divide into 9 pieces, shape each into a ball and let rest 5 minutes.
- Roll each piece into a rope about 15″ long.
- Lay 4 strands on a lightly greased baking sheet, overlapping at the center. Braid from the center toward each end.
- With the side of your hand make a trench down the center.
- Now braid 3 strands, also from the center to each end, and place in the ‘trench’.
- Twist the 2 remaining strands loosely together and place on top, bringing the ends over the end of the loaf and tucking in.
- Cover loosely and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Bake, 350F (175C) for 40 – 45 minutes.
- Remove and cool on a wire rack.
- Mix milk and sugar.
- When bread is cool, drizzle frosting over the top. Sprinkle with nuts.
Notes
You can find the conversions from volume to weights easily online if needed.
To scald milk: heat almost to boiling then allow to cool. It makes the bread lighter. Check online for more info.
Keywords: sweet bread, holiday breads, striesel
Find it online: https://thymeforcookingblog.com/2018/11/viennese-striesel/
