German Sweet Bread

Method17 steps · about 3 hr 15 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Soak raisins (1 cup) in water or apple cider (1 cup).

   Uses 1 cup raisins · 1 cup water or apple cider

2. 2

   Step 2: Add flour (4 cups) to a stand mixer bowl.

   Uses 4 cups flour

3. 3

   Step 3: Heat milk (1 cup) to luke warm and dissolve yeast (1 tbsp.) and sugar (1/2 cup) in it.

   Uses 1 cup warm milk · 1 tbsp. yeast · 1/2 cup sugar

4. 4

   Step 4: Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

   Activate Yeast · 10 minUses yeast milk mixture

5. 5

   Step 5: Add almond extract (½ tsp.) and egg (1) - whisk briefly.

   Uses ½ tsp. pure almond extract (optional) · 1 egg · rested yeast milk

6. 6

   Step 6: Pour the milk mixture to the flour, add soft butter (5 tbsp.) and salt (1 tsp.).

   Uses milk egg and almond mixture · flour in mixer bowl · 5 tbsp. soft butter · 1 tsp. salt

7. 7

   Step 7: Knead everything briefly to a soft dough.

   Uses sweet bread dough

8. 8

   Step 8: If using raisins, drain them well and knead them into the dough.

   Uses soaked raisins

9. 9

   Step 9: Cover again with a kitchen towel and let raise for 2 hours

   Uses raisin bread dough

10. 10

    Step 10: Continue the rise until the dough has doubled in size.

    Uses rising bread dough

11. 11

    Step 11: Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit.

12. 12

    Step 12: Remove dough from the bowl and knead briefly.

    Uses risen sweet bread dough

13. 13

    Step 13: Braid the dough and place on a with parchment paper lined baking sheet.

    Uses briefly kneaded dough

14. 14

    Step 14: Whisk the egg (1) with sugar (1 Pinch) and salt (1 Pinch).

    Uses 1 egg · 1 Pinch of sugar · 1 Pinch of salt

15. 15

    Step 15: Brush braided bread with it and sprinkle with slivered almonds (2 tbsp.).

    Uses egg sugar and salt glaze · 2 tbsp. slivered almonds

16. 16

    Step 16: Let rise for about 30 minutes.

    Final Rise · 30 minUses glazed almond-topped braid

17. 17

    Step 17: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

    Bake Sweet Bread · 35 minUses proofed sweet bread braid