Croatian Easter Braid, Pletenica

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option while maintaining moisture.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds natural sweetness with a unique flavor.

raisins

🥗Healthier: dried cranberries

💰Cheaper: sultanas

Dried cranberries offer a tart contrast to the sweetness.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water

Almond milk is a dairy-free alternative that keeps the bread moist.

Add 500 g flour, 80 g sugar, and a pinch of salt into a bowl.

Pour in 250 ml of room temperature milk and add 1 packet of vanilla sugar.

Add 21 g fresh yeast and 1 tablespoon of rum to the mixture.

Zest 1 lemon and add it to the bowl.

Mix all ingredients together until combined.

Incorporate butter cut into cubes into the dough using a mixer with spiral attachments.

Add 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk to the dough and mix until combined.

Knead the dough until smooth and leave it in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour until doubled in size.

Divide the dough into 6 pieces and roll each piece into a rope of about 50 cm.

Let the rolled pieces rise for another 10 minutes under a dish towel.

Braid the ropes together, ensuring to keep the braid tight.

Transfer the braided dough onto a baking tray.

Cover and let it rise again before baking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens