Hungarian Egg Twist bread is perfect for everyday or dressed up for a special occasion. You can sprinkle in nuts and dried fruit or other additions to this sweetened bread or eat it as is.
4ouncesbutter1 stick, softened and cut into pieces
1/3cupsugar
2large eggs
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2cuplight raisinsoptional
1large egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
Stir 1 teaspoon of sugar and yeast into cooled scalded milk and let sit for 5 minutes or until activated.
In the bowl of a stand-up mixer, fitted with a dough hook, combine flour, salt, butter, sugar, 2 eggs, zest, and raisins. Mix until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl, turning the dough once to coat both sides. Cover with greased plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in a warm place (1 to 1-1/2 hours).
When risen, punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut it into three equal-sized pieces and allow it to rest covered for about 5 minutes. Roll each piece of dough into a 20-inch rope. Braid the three pieces into one long twist or join ends into a circle. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, tucking ends under. Cover with greased plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled (1 hour).
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the egg yolk and the milk together. Brush over the entire surface of the braid. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 190 degrees F. Tent with foil if the crust browns too quickly. Let rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Notes
*Scalding milk is heating it to 180 degrees F. It used to be done to kill bacteria in the milk and to kill the enzyme that prevented thickening. This isn't the case anymore with pasteurized milk, but it is still done because it also makes cake spongy and breads light. Adapted from https://www.thespruce.com/eastern-european-easter-bread-recipes
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.