Bohemian Braid

⁽²⁾

This simple, but scrumptious bread is made with almonds, pecans and maraschino cherries.

90 minutes Prep: 50 minutes Cook: 40 minutes

2284 calories per serving view nutrition facts

2 servings suggest servings

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Ingredients

1/2	cup	water
2	each	yeast, active dry	packages
1 1/2	cup	milk	lukewarm
1/2	cup	sugar
2	teaspoons	salt
2	large	eggs
1/2	cup	vegetable shortening
7 1/2	cups	flour, all-purpose
2	teaspoons	lemon	rind, grated
1/4	teaspoon	mace
1	cup	raisins, seedless
1	cup	almonds	blanched
1	x	maraschino cherries	halved
1	x	pecan halves	chopped
1	each	egg yolk
1	tablespoon	water

Directions

Mix together the water, yeast, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, half the flour, the lemon rind, mace, raisins, and almonds. Add flour until dough is smooth and workable. Knead on a floured board until smooth and elastic. Put in a greased bowl, turn to coat, cover with a damp tea towel and place in a warm spot to rise until double, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch dough down. Divide in half. Set one half aside and divide the other into 4 equal parts. Shape three of the pieces into 14 inch long strands and braid on a lightly greased cookie sheet (you may want to arrange this diagonally. These get big!). Fasten ends together and tuck under. Take fourth piece and divide in thirds and make a second smaller braid to go on top of the first. Repeat with other half of dough on a second greased cookie sheet. Cover each braid loosely with damp tea towels and let rise for 45 minutes to an hour.

For decoration, gently press halved maraschino cherries (well rinsed) and/or pecan halves into joints of braids. Brush loaves with a glaze made from egg yolk and 1 tb water, and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown, but not dark.

When loaves have cooled completely, mix a confectioner's sugar glaze of four tb butter, about 1/3-1/2 c milk, and confectioner's sugar until the consistency is thick but will still run down the sides, and drizzle glaze over the tops of the loaves.

Reviews

I spotted this recipe in my mom's old Betty Crocker cookbook when I was about 15 years old. I was in Home Ec at the time and this looked spectacular so I made it that Christmas to "show off." It became an instant family Christmas tradition. This beautiful bread looks like it came right out of a picture in a cookbook, even when made by a novice. You'll always get ohhs and ahhs when unveiling it. Perfect as a home-baked gift too.
over 7 years ago

Iam half Bohemian and raised on Bohemian Foods. I think that this bread is delicous!
over 7 years ago

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 902g

Amount per Serving

Calories 2284 5% of calories from fat

	% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14.0g	21%
Saturated Fat 5.0g	23%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 226mg	75%
Sodium 2523mg	105%
Total Carbohydrate 476.0g	159%
Dietary Fiber 15.0g	62%
Sugars 105.0g
Protein 63.0g	126%