Houska Recipes

CZECH CHRISTMAS HOSKA

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add beaten egg and salt. Stir in cooled milk and then the yeast. Add 1 1/2 cups sifted flour; beat into a smooth batter. Cover and let rise until light, about one hour.
• Stir spices and dried orange zest into the sponge. Add 4 1/2 cups of flour to make a soft dough. Place on a lightly floured board, and knead until smooth and elastic. Knead in raisins and candied peel. Put in a well oiled bowl, and turn once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover. Set aside to rise until double in bulk, about 2 hours.
• Divide dough into ten parts, roll into desired lengths, and let rise about 15 minutes.
• On a heavily greased baking sheet, make a braid of three parts, beginning in the center and working braid loosely toward each end. Pinch ends together. Twist the remaining two pieces together, and place on the base of the braid. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolk and milk; brush the loaf with this mixture. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the loaf. Repeat process for second loaf. Let rise about 45 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Transfer bread to a wire rack, and cool completely. Cover while cooling with a tea towel to make a soft crust. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

HOUSKA

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Stir in the butter until melted; let cool to lukewarm.
• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. In another small bowl, combine 2 whole eggs with the egg yolk; beat lightly.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix together 4 cups flour, white sugar, salt, lemon zest, mace and nutmeg. Make a well in the center of this mixture and pour in the cooled milk, yeast mixture and beaten eggs. Beat well until a loose dough forms. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 3 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough and gradually incorporate the remaining cup of flour. Continue kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into 3 portions; 1 small, 1 medium and 1 large (or one the size of a tangerine, one the size of an orange and one the size of a grapefruit). Cut the largest piece of dough in half and roll it out into 2 long ropes about 30 inches long. Twist the ropes together and place into a 8 inch diameter spiral and place it on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Cut the medium size piece of dough in half and roll out into 2 ropes about 20 inches long each. Twist the ropes together and place in a ring on top of the first circle of dough. Roll the smallest piece of dough into a rope about 12 inches long. Coil this rope on top of the other dough. The completed loaf should look like a pyramid.
• Place the uncovered loaf in an unheated oven to rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Remove the loaf from oven and preheat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Lightly beat the reserved egg white and brush over the loaf. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned. If bread starts to brown too quickly, cover with aluminum foil and continue baking. Cool on wire rack.

HOSKA - CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water until bubbly. To the warm milk add soft butter, salt, sugar, vanilla, spices and orange rind. Let cool to lukewarm.
• Add yeast mixture and beaten eggs and mix well. Sift in 4 cups flour, stirring well, add raisins and nuts alternately. Then add remaining flour, beat until dough does not stick to bowl.
• Turn out on floured board and knead until smooth and elastic about 8 or 10 minutes. Put in greased bowl, cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough and divide in half. This make 2 loaves.
• Cut 4 large and 5 smaller portions, roll each into long rolls. Braid the 4 rolls forming a loaf. Put on pan lined with greased brown paper. Braid the 3 smaller rolls and place on top, then remaining 2 pieces on top.
• Brush with beaten egg whites in a little water. Let rise to double in bulk. For rich crust brush with melted butter during baking. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, lower temperature to 325 degrees for 45 minutes longer depending on how you like it.

HOUSKA - BOHEMIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve yeast in water. Combine sugar and butter. When combined add beaten egg and salt. Stir in the scalded milk AFTER IT HAS COOLED and the yeast. Add 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Let rise about 1/2 hour. Add almonds and raisins. Mix well. Add rest of the flour to make a soft dough. Turn on board and knead until smooth. Place in a greased bowl and let rise about 45 minutes. Punch down in bowl and let rise again for 45 minutes. Then put in two greased bread pans. Let rise again for another 45 minutes. Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees. Brush with beaten egg and 1 Tablespoon of water before baking.
• 2. This is time consuming so make sure you have plenty of time on your hands! Letting the dough rise multiple times is key to this bread! Once you taste it you will realize that it was well worth the work! A stand mixer works great when making sweet breads!

HOUSKA - CZECH BRAIDED BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir in milk, sugar, salt, mace, eggs, and 3 cups of the flour to make a batter. Set aside.
• In a separate large mixing bowl, sift remaining 5 cups flour.
• Stir down the batter; add lemon zest, raisins, and almonds.
• Add to flour mixture. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead 10 to 12 minutes by hand or with a dough hook until smooth and elastic.
• Place in a greased bowl; cover; let rise until doubled. Punch down; divide in half; cover; let rest 10 minutes.
• To shape, divide each half into 10 pieces: 4 larger pieces; 4 slightly smaller pieces; and 2 small pieces. Roll all pieces into 16-inch ropes, tapering the ends.
• Place the four largest ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid. Pinch ends together. Using the side of your hand, indent the center of the braid lengthwise. Braid the 4 smaller pieces and lay this braid lengthwise on top of the first braid; indent again. Twist the final two pieces together and lay on top of second braid. Pinch all ends together and tuck underneath the loaf. Fasten ends and top with about 5 toothpicks so the loaf will hold its shape during baking.
• Cover; let rise until doubled.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water; brush egg wash on braids.
• Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature registers about 200 degrees. If top browns too quickly, tent with foil. Cool; remove picks.