Houska

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees f)
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg, separated
• 6 cups bread flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 5 hrs


• heat the milk in a small saucepan until it , 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, 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 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 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.