Czech Recipe – Vánočka

Small Bowl

Kitchen Aid Mixing Bowl with Dough Hook

Other Ingredients Needed

1 1/2 tablespoons of Active Dry Yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons warm milk (not hot – warm!)

1 cup warm milk

2 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

5-6 cups all purpose flour

1 egg – whisked

slivered almonds

1. Combine the ingredients above in a small bowl.
   
2. Cover with a dish towel and allow to sit in a warm location for 10 minutes.
   

1. Combine the ingredients above in the mixing bowl.
2. Blend the yeast mixture from the small bowl into this bowl once 10 minutes have elapsed.
3. Slowly add flour.

1. Place dough onto a floured surface and knead until it is no longer sticky.
2. Place dough in a bowl.  Dust with flour, cover with a dish towel, and let rise in a warm location for 60 minutes.
   
3. Punch dough down, place onto floured surface, and briefly knead.
   
4. Shape dough into a long loaf.  Divide the loaf into thirds.  Divide each third into thirds for a total of 9 dough pieces.  Roll dough pieces into 9 long tubes of about equal length – wetting hands lightly helps during this process.
   
5. Layers of the Vánočka:

• • Bottom Layer – 4 dough tubes braided together.  Below is a great YouTube video of how to braid this layer (do not roll it into a ball as shown at the end of the video).  Place this layer onto a greased cookie sheet.  Indent this layer down the center with the side of your hand and brush the center lightly with water or a whisked egg.

• • Middle Layer – 3 dough tubes braided together.  Indent this layer down the center with the side of your hand then set this on top of bottom layer.  Brush the indentation lightly.
    
  • Top Layer – 2 dough tubes twisted together.  Set this on top of the middle layer.
  • YouTube Video of the Entire Vánočka Assembly:

1. Place 1 long wooden skewer on each end and 1 in the middle (through the top and straight down to the cookie sheet – see the video above).  This will keep the Vánočka from deforming during the baking process.  It’s a tall loaf of bread – the top layer may slide to one side  during baking.
2. Cover the Vánočka with a dish towel, place in a warm area and allow to rise for 60 minutes.
3. Brush the loaf with the whisked egg.  Sprinkle with slivered almonds if desired.
4. Cook at 350^oF for 35-40 minutes.  The loaf will brown quickly towards the end of baking, so covering it with foil the last 5-10 minutes will help prevent this.
   
5. Allow the Vánočka to cool.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar when ready to display/serve.