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Sweet Braids

17/11/2023

Sweet braids are a typical bakery preparation, soft and often flavored with vanilla or citrus zest. Here’s the recipe to make delicious sweet braids.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of type 00 flour
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 25 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
  • 200 ml of lukewarm milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 80 g of soft butter
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1 egg yolk for brushing
  • Nib sugar (optional)

Preparation

  1. Dough: Dissolve the brewer’s yeast in the lukewarm milk with a teaspoon of sugar. In a large bowl, sift the flour and create a well in the center. Add the dissolved yeast, eggs, soft butter, the remaining sugar, grated lemon zest, and vanilla extract to the center. Start kneading from the center, gradually incorporating the flour from the edges until the dough is smooth and even. Add a pinch of salt and work the dough a bit more.

  2. Leavening: Put the dough in a bowl lightly greased with oil, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise for about 2 hours in a warm place away from drafts until the dough has doubled in volume.

  3. Shaping the braids: Take the leavened dough and divide it into pieces of about 80-100 grams each. Form long, thin cylinders and plait them to make the braids.

  4. Second leavening: Arrange the braids on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover them again with a kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes.

  5. Baking: Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Brush the braids with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with nib sugar if desired. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

  6. Finishing: Remove the braids from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack before serving.

Sweet braids are perfect for an indulgent breakfast or snack. If you want them in an even more Italian version, you could add chocolate chips or chopped candied fruit to the dough for an additional touch of flavor. Enjoy your meal!

Sweet Braids