What is a Hefezopf? A German Breakfast Staple
A Hefezopf is a traditional German sweet brioche-like bread shaped into braids. It gets special attention during Easter time and is a typical bread to dunk in your fresh coffee or hot chocolate for breakfast or “Kaffee und Kuchen”, the German coffee hour. It is characterized by a soft, fluffy texture, often topped with pearl sugar or sliced almonds, and sometimes contains raisins. The Hefezopf only takes a couple of hours to make, and even I succeeded at it!
Fresh vs. Dry Yeast: Tips for Baking German Bread in the USA
As so often, my sister provided me with her favorite recipe. Before trying to bake it myself here in Michigan, I stumbled upon a problem: Most German recipes require fresh yeast, and most of us are very skeptical of dry yeast. After now living and baking in the US for a couple of years, I can tell you, you can put your anxiety away. Dry yeast or active dry yeast works just fine if you follow the instructions on the packaging! You can just replace one cube of fresh yeast (approx. 42 grams) with 1.5 tbsp active dry yeast (or two packages).
The Secret Ingredient: Why Lemon Zest is Non-Negotiable
You can modify the recipe with all kinds of fillings, like raisins, chocolate chips, or other dried fruits, and also with the toppings you can be creative. The only non-negotiable ingredient is the lemon zest. It gives the Hefezopf its distinct taste and without it, it’s just some brioche dough!
Spring is in the air! Red-winged Blackbirds are back at Metrobeach. See the latest on nesting Great Horned Owls, Wood Ducks, and my favorite birding trails. 🥨🦉
Utilize the wait!
The dough needs roughly 2 hours to rise. This gives you enough time to read my article about the differences I observed between American and German Easter or to go to your local hotspot for a birding quickie.
Traditional Braided Sweet Bread (Hefezopf)
Ingredients
- 2.2 lbs All-purpose flour approx. 8 cups
- 2.1 cups Milk, lukewarm approx. 17 fl oz
- 3.5 oz Sugar approx. 1/2 cup
- 1.5 tbsp Active Dry Yeast
- 5.3 oz Butter, softened approx. 2/3 cup or 10.5 tbsp
- 2 tsp Salt
- 2 Eggs size M
- 1 tbsp Lemon zest
- 1 Egg Yolk for brushing
- 2 tbsp Pearl sugar
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Heat up half of the milk until lukewarm. Add the sugar and active dry yeast to it and mix.
- Mix the ingredients: Mix the butter, lemon zest, the remaining milk, salt, sugar, yeast, and eggs until smooth. Measure the flour into a large bowl.
- Knead the dough: Now the hard work starts. Add your liquid mixture to the flour and knead it until all the flour is worked into the dough and it does not stick to your bowl anymore. By hand, this will take you 10 to 15 minutes. Once done, let the dough rest for 2 hours.
- Roll the dough: After the dough has doubled in size, you can take it out, give it a brief knead, and separate it into three equal portions. Roll those portions into long strings.
- Braid the loaf: Get your three long strands together on one side. Start by folding the right strand into the middle, then fold the left strand into the middle, then the right again, and so on—until you run out of dough.Put the braid onto a greased baking sheet (or use parchment paper) and let it rest for another 20 to 30 minutes.
- Apply the eggwash: While the dough rests, prepare the eggwash and preheat the oven to 350°F. Separate one egg yolk from a medium egg, add a pinch each of salt and sugar plus a splash of milk, and stir until smooth. Apply the eggwash generously onto the braid once it's well-rested. Sprinkle the pearl sugar on it.
- Bake it: Put the braid into the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You can check if it's done by tapping on it. If it sounds hollow, it's done.
Notes
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving |
| Calories | 316 kcal |
| Total Fat | 8.7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 51.0 g |
| Sugars | 8.1 g |
| Protein | 7.6 g |
| Fiber | 1.5 g |
Explore more: Recipe of the month
The Schnitzel Trifecta: Schnitzel with Spätzle and creamy mushroom gravy!
Check out Ali’s Oreo Truffles to create your own German American coffee hour snacks!
I hope you could enjoy this recipe. If you tried, leave a rating and a comment below! 🥨🦉
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