The classic yeast braid – also called Striezel or Hefezopf in Austria and Bavaria – made of the yummiest fine yeast dough, normally with egg, butter and milk which is a popular traditional pastry especially for Easter as an Easter braid! The yeast dough is divided into 3 or even more pieces and rolled into strands, which are then braided into a braid.
Baking Time: 30 minutes | Preparation: 15 minutes | Waiting time: 90 minutes
WHAT YOU NEED:
- 275ml almond milk
- 100g vegan margarine or 50ml coconut oil
- 1 cube of yeast (or 1 big table spoon of dried yeast for 500g flour – look at the description of the yeast package)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 100g birch sugar
- tea spoon of salt
- bit of vanilla flavor
- Peel of a fresh lemon (around 5g)
TOPPING:
- decorating/coarse sugar (if you want to)
Put the almond milk in a pot, add the vegan margarine or oil and heat it up. Then let it cool just for a bit and add the yeast into this mixture.
In a separate bowl put the flour, sugar and salt together. Add the peel of a fresh lemon and vanilla bean or flavor
Pour the wet yeast ingredients into the bowl with the flour and mix is with an electric mixer! Be patient 😉 Even the dough seems to be very sticky and wet, don’t add flour right away. It takes a while till the dough gets the perfect consistency! You’ll know, if it does not stick to the bowl anymore. (Tip: The dough needs to be kneaded for a while in order to rise properly)
Now it is time to wait! Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest on a warm spot for about 60 minutes. What I do is to fill the kitchen skin with a bit of a hot water, just like 5 centimeter, and let the bowl rest in there.
Don’t snack to much on the dough – thats the hardest part for me 😉 Crab the dough and put in on your work plate covered with flour. Knead again the dough and form three equal sized balls. Know the fun part begins! 🙂 Braid a nice bun and put it on a pan with parchment paper. Let it rest for another 30 minutes covered with a kitchen towel.
Meanwhile you can preheat the over to 160 degrees (circulating air/Umluft). Brush the bun with almond milk and sprinkle it with the topping sugar! Unfortunately I didn’t have one at home and I didn’t want to wait another day to have this yummy bread! haha
Now its time to put the yummy bread in the oven for about 30 minutes. Just look until the top is light brown-gold! Stick a needle in the bun to see if its ready – there should be no wet dough sticking on to the needle.
And now enjoy with maple syrup or homemade jam on top – my favorite ! 😉
Julia 
It's me JULIA 