Christmas Eve Honey Bread
This is a traditional Bulgarian Christmas Eve bread,
but would also be a lovely bread to share for Thanksgiving. Traditionally, a
coin is baked into the bread to symbolize prosperity for the year ahead.
Prep time 15 mins
Cook time 25 mins
Total time 40 mins
Serves: 12
Ingredients:
-
3/4 cup warm water
-
2 tsp. instant or dry active yeast
-
500 g. all-purpose flour (about 4 cups)
-
4 Tbsp. vegetable, canola or any neutral tasting oil
-
2 Tbsp. honey
-
1/2 tsp. salt
Directions:
Add yeast to warm water, stir and allow to sit for a
few minutes. In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough
hook, add the flour. Add the yeast/water mixture, the honey, oil and salt. Mix
the dough until it comes together, adding a bit more water or flour, as
necessary, then knead by hand or with your dough hook, into a soft, smooth
dough.
Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with
plastic warp and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size,
about 30-60 minutes.
When the dough has doubled, place on a lightly
floured surface and knead for a minute or so. Cut out and set aside a
fist-sized piece of dough (to be used to make the top decorations). Knead the
fortune coin (I used a whole pecan in place of a real coin) into the remaining
dough and then roll into a flat round shape. Place onto a parchment lined
baking sheet.
Using the reserved piece of dough, cut small pieces
and shape into the various elements to decorate the top of the bread. Decorate
the bread with ears of wheat, apples, grapes or flowers. To make the top of the
wheat, use some clean kitchen scissors to snip v-shaped snips into the dough.
Once all your shapes are placed on the bread round, press down lightly over the
top of them to flatten slightly and ensure they stick. In a small bowl, combine
the honey and oil and brush liberally over the entire top of the bread.
Bake in a preheated oven at 400° until golden and
cooked through, about 20 - 25 minutes. Check the bread regularly after 10
minutes and cover the top with a piece of aluminum foil if the top is browning
too much.
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