Bread for Christmas Evening

To prepare a special delicacy, we will start by gathering all the necessary ingredients and organizing ourselves efficiently, to turn this process into a pleasant and engaging experience. In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, finely grated lemon zest, diced butter, fresh egg, salt, and yeast. It is important to keep the salt away from the yeast to avoid inhibiting its activity.

After adding all the solid ingredients, we begin to gradually incorporate the milk, mixing with a wooden spoon or with our hands, until a homogeneous dough forms. When all the flour from the bowl's walls has been incorporated, we transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. We knead the dough for about 7 minutes, keeping in mind that a small additional amount of flour may be needed to achieve the desired consistency. Finally, we shape the dough into a ball.

The obtained dough is left to rise for an hour in a warm place, away from drafts, to allow it to rise beautifully. After this period, we weigh the dough, which should be approximately 900 g after rising. We divide it into 16 equal portions, each weighing about 56 g. Each portion is shaped into small balls, which are kept covered to prevent drying out.

The next step is to grease the baking tray, shaped like a Christmas tree, with butter. We arrange the small dough balls in five rows, making sure to keep space between them: one ball at the top, two on the second row, three on the third, four on the next, and five on the last row, with one dough ball placed at the base of the tree in the central area. We cover the tray with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 30 minutes in a warm place. If we notice that the dough needs more time, we can leave it covered for up to an hour, considering that it will rise considerably.

In the meantime, we preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius, so it’s ready when the dough is prepared for baking. In a small bowl, we mix an egg yolk with 15 ml of milk, and with this mixture, we will brush the surface of the dough. This will help create a golden and appetizing crust. On top, we sprinkle sesame seeds, adding extra flavor and texture.

The dough is baked for 20-25 minutes on the middle rack of the oven, until it takes on a nice golden hue. Once baked, it is allowed to cool on a wire rack, giving the flavors a chance to stabilize. Finally, we can let our imagination run wild, decorating with candied cherries for a festive and attractive look. This recipe will not only fill our home with inviting aromas, but it will also bring joy to the table, being perfect for holidays or special moments with loved ones.

 Ingredients: - 530 g flour 000 freshly sifted and flour for dusting the work surface - 40 g superfine sugar - 10 g finely ground sea salt - 7 g dry yeast - 1 egg and 1 egg yolk for brushing the dough - 50 g butter at room temperature (soft but not melted) cut into pieces - 220 ml warm milk and 15 ml milk for brushing the dough - zest of one lemon - butter for greasing the pan - 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds - a few candied cherries

 Tags:  eggs milk unt flour sugar fruits lemon cherries bread christmas and new year's recipes vegetarian recipes recipes for children