Best 2 Czech Christmas Hoska Recipes
The Czech Christmas hoska is a sweet bread traditionally eaten during the Christmas season in the Czech Republic. It is a round or oval-shaped bread that is made with a sweet yeast dough and flavored with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. The bread is often decorated with almonds, raisins, or candied fruit. It is a delicious and festive bread that is perfect for enjoying with family and friends during the holidays.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CZECH CHRISTMAS HOSKA
Traditional Czechoslovakian Christmas Bread. Serve with butter. Some people toast it, use jelly, or even butter and powdered sugar...depending upon local customs and family preference. It is a day-long project, but well worth the effort.
Provided by Carol Ponec-Nemec
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes
Time 5h30m
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water.
- In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add beaten egg and salt. Stir in cooled milk and then the yeast. Add 1 1/2 cups sifted flour; beat into a smooth batter. Cover and let rise until light, about one hour.
- Stir spices and dried orange zest into the sponge. Add 4 1/2 cups of flour to make a soft dough. Place on a lightly floured board, and knead until smooth and elastic. Knead in raisins and candied peel. Put in a well oiled bowl, and turn once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover. Set aside to rise until double in bulk, about 2 hours.
- Divide dough into ten parts, roll into desired lengths, and let rise about 15 minutes.
- On a heavily greased baking sheet, make a braid of three parts, beginning in the center and working braid loosely toward each end. Pinch ends together. Twist the remaining two pieces together, and place on the base of the braid. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolk and milk; brush the loaf with this mixture. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the loaf. Repeat process for second loaf. Let rise about 45 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Transfer bread to a wire rack, and cool completely. Cover while cooling with a tea towel to make a soft crust. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 177.3 calories, Carbohydrate 29.4 g, Cholesterol 22.3 mg, Fat 4.9 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 110 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
CZECH CHRISTMAS HOSKA
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add beaten egg and salt. Stir in cooled milk (2 cups), and then the yeast. Add l l/2 cups sifted flour; beat to smooth batter. Cover and let rise until light, about one hour.
- Stir spices and dried orange zest into the sponge. Add 4 l/2 cups of flour to make a soft dough. Place on a lightly floured board, and knead until smooth and elastic. Knead in raisins and candied peel.
- Put dough in a well oiled bowl, and turn once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover. Set aside to rise until double in bulk, about 2 hours.
- Divide dough into ten parts, roll into desired lengths, and let rise about l5 minutes. On a heavily greased baking sheet, make a braid of three parts, beginning in the center and working braid loosely toward each end. Pinch ends together. Twist the remaining two pieces together, and place on the base of the braid.
- In a small bowl, beat together egg yolk and 1 tablespoon milk; brush the loaf with this mixture. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the loaf. Repeat process for second loaf. Let rise about 45 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Transfer bread to a wire rack, and cool completely. Cover while cooling with a tea towel to make a soft crust.
- Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: The fresher your ingredients, the better your hoska will taste. This is especially important for the yeast, which should be active and bubbly.
- Proof the yeast: Proofing the yeast is essential to ensure that it is active and will work properly in the dough. To proof the yeast, dissolve it in warm water with a little sugar and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes foamy.
- Knead the dough well: Kneading the dough develops the gluten, which gives the hoska its characteristic chewy texture. Knead the dough for at least 5 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic.
- Let the dough rise: After you have kneaded the dough, let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. This will take about 1-2 hours.
- Shape the dough: Once the dough has risen, shape it into a round loaf. You can also braid the dough or shape it into other decorative shapes.
- Bake the hoska: Bake the hoska in a preheated oven until it is golden brown. The baking time will vary depending on the size and shape of the hoska.
Conclusion:
Hoska is a delicious and festive bread that is perfect for Christmas or any other special occasion. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its soft, chewy texture and sweet, nutty flavor, hoska is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love