Zopf, a traditional Swiss plaited breakfast bread, is a staple in many households and bakeries throughout Switzerland. This delectable treat is renowned for its rich, buttery flavor, soft texture, and beautiful golden-brown crust. Whether you're a seasoned baker looking to try a new recipe or a novice seeking to impress your friends and family with a homemade creation, mastering the art of crafting a perfect Zopf is a worthwhile endeavor. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the secrets behind this iconic bread, providing you with step-by-step instructions, essential tips, and a selection of delectable recipes. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let's embark on a culinary journey to discover the best recipe for Zopf, the traditional Swiss plaited breakfast bread.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ZOPF
I discovered this Swiss Sunday bread when I was visiting friends in Switzerland. One of these friends is a pastry chef! The measurements given to me were metric, so I had to convert them. This makes a beautiful loaf and is super easy to make!
Provided by Victoria Marler
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes White Bread Recipes
Time 1h35m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Add the egg yolk, butter and 2 cups of bread flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces and roll each piece into a 14 inch long cylinder. Braid the pieces together and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- In a small bowl, beat together egg white and water. Brush risen loaf with egg wash and bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25, until golden.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 38 calories, Carbohydrate 1.6 g, Cholesterol 24.3 mg, Fat 2.8 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 30.4 mg, Sugar 1.3 g
ZOPF OR BRAIDED BREAD
Make and share this Zopf or Braided Bread recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Artandkitchen
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 45m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl mix the warm milk, sugar, salt, butter, egg yolk and 200 g flour.
- Mix with the hook for 1 minute.
- Add the yeast and mix for 2 minutes again.
- Add the remaining 300 g flour and work with the hook.
- When the dough has pulled together and becomes smooth and elastic (after about 5 minutes) you can form the braid.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and roll each piece into a 60 cm long cylinder (or 3 pieces of 30 cm). Braid the pieces together and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. This is the method that I use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcPnB0Sgc-Q.
- In a small bowl, mix egg white and water and brush the bread with this mixture.
- Let the dough rest after forming for 90 minutes until it doubles in size.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 180°C for 20 to 25 minutes (heat and timing are basing it on convection oven), until golden.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 361.2, Fat 15.1, SaturatedFat 8.2, Cholesterol 60.1, Sodium 740.2, Carbohydrate 47.2, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 5.8, Protein 9.2
ZOPF (TRADITIONAL SWISS PLAITED BREAKFAST BREAD)
Zopf is a soft milk bread and is a family tradition with us; it is usually served with butter and jam, although can also be served with soft cheeses and cold meats. It is a breakfast or dinner bread. If you need to know how to do the plait, let me know and I'll send you a diagram! Based on a Betty Bossi recipe.
Provided by Chickee
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 3h
Yield 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix together all ingredients except egg yolk to make a soft dough. Knead 10 minutes or so.
- Divide into 4 and make long sausages with the dough.
- Form the sausages into 2 square crosses.
- Plait each cross, using a 4 strand plait, so that you end up with two loaves of plaited bread.
- Put in the fridge until ready to bake- overnight, for example.
- Paint the loaves with a little of the egg yolk.
- Place a water bath under the oven shelf. Bake in the bottom half of a 220 degree Celcius preheated oven for 10 minutes, then turn the temperature down and bake at 200 degrees for 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 2561.7, Fat 69.6, SaturatedFat 40.7, Cholesterol 272.4, Sodium 4022.7, Carbohydrate 408.6, Fiber 16.6, Sugar 7.7, Protein 69.5
Tips:
- Use high-quality, fresh ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the bread will be.
- Make sure your yeast is active. If you're not sure, you can test it by dissolving it in a little warm water with a pinch of sugar. If it bubbles up after a few minutes, it's active.
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. This will help develop the gluten in the flour, which will give the bread a chewy texture.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. This will give the yeast time to work and produce carbon dioxide, which will cause the bread to rise.
- Bake the bread in a preheated oven. This will help ensure that the bread cooks evenly.
Conclusion:
Zopf is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is also a popular choice for special occasions, such as Easter and Christmas. If you are looking for a new bread to try, I highly recommend giving zopf a try. It is sure to become a favorite!
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