Bohemian Honey Walnut Christmas Bread Recipes

POTICA

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 3 tablespoons of the flour in warm milk. Mix well, and let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter with the remaining sugar. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the yeast mixture, remaining milk, 4 cups of flour and the salt; mix well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring 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. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Lightly grease one or two cookie sheets. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and roll Out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Spread each piece with melted butter, honey, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon. Roll each piece up like a jelly roll and pinch the ends. Place seam side down onto the prepared baking sheets. Let rise until double in volume. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

HONEY WALNUT BREAD

Steps:

• Crumble the yeast and dissolve it in one cup of the water. Make sure the water's got the right temperature, as the bread won't rise if the water's too cold and the yeast will be killed if too hot. Once completely dissolved, add the remaining water, honey, oil, salt and walnuts, and continue to mix. I usually use a stand mixer when making this bread, as the dough is pretty big and the recipe calls for a lot of kneading.
• Let the mixer go, and while mixing, add 4 cups of flour, one cup of whole wheat flour, the rye flour and rolled oats. Add more flour until the dough lets go off the bowl, but be careful not to add to much. The dough should be really sticky! Continue to mix on medium speed for about 10 minutes, cover the dough with a towel and let rise until doubled in size (about 45 minutes). Punch the dough down, and let rest for an additional 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 420 degrees F and oil four bread pans. When the dough is done proofing, turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead, knead knead! Add more flour if necessary. Cut the dough in four equal pieces and place in prepared pans. Cover with a towel and let rise for 30-60 minutes. Bake in oven for twenty minutes, and let cool completely before removing bread from pan.

BOHEMIAN HONEY WALNUT CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• For dough: Sprinkle yeast and sugar over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve. Let stand until foamy, about 5 min. Mix in yolks and salt. Blend in butter, milk, then flour. Beat mixture with spoon until smooth, about 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. For filling: Combine 1st 4 ingredients in med. saucepan over med.-low heat. Stir until honey dissolves and heated through. Pour into large bowl. Using mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and beat until meringue is stiff and shiny. Fold into honey-nut mixture. Preheat oven to 350. Generously butter 10 inch tube pan. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth, about 2 min. Divide dough in half, roll 1 dough piece into 20" square. Spread half of filling over. Roll dough up jelly roll style, enclosing filling. Repeat remaining dough and filling. Place 1 roll seam side down in pan so ends meet. Place second roll on top first seam side down so ends meet. Pierce dough with fork. Bake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool completely in pan on rack.

BOHEMIAN BLACK BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to the pan according to the order in the manufacturer's directions.
• Set crust on medium and program for the Basic or Whole Wheat cycle; press Start.
• When the baking cycle ends, immediately remove the bread from the pan and place it on a rack.
• Let cool to room temperature before slicing.