Recipe: Classic Easter plait

A fluffy, slightly sweet yeast plait that no Easter brunch should be without!

Ingredients:

• 500 g freshly ground wheat or spelt flour (type 550)
• 80 g sugar
• 1 cube of fresh yeast (or 1 packet of dry yeast)
• 250 ml lukewarm milk
• 80 g soft butter
• 1 egg
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
• 1 egg yolk + 1 tbsp milk to coat
• Hail sugar or flaked almonds for decoration

Preparation:

1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm milk with 1 teaspoon of sugar and leave to rest for 10 minutes.
2. Place the flour, sugar, salt, egg and yeast mixture in a bowl, add the butter and knead into a smooth dough.
3. Leave the dough to rise in a warm place for 60 minutes.
4. Braid into a plait and leave to rest for another 30 minutes.
5. Brush with egg yolk-milk mixture, sprinkle with sugar or almonds.
6. Bake at 180°C (top/bottom heat) for 25-30 minutes.

Recipe: Rustic carrot and walnut bread

A moist, hearty bread for the perfect Easter brunch!

Ingredients:

• 400 g freshly ground spelt or wheat flour (type 1050)
• 100 g freshly ground rye flour
• 1 packet of dry yeast or ½ cube of fresh yeast
• 250 ml lukewarm water
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp bread spice (caraway, fennel, coriander, aniseed)
• 2 carrots, grated
• 80 g walnuts, roughly chopped

Preparation:

1. Dissolve the yeast and honey in the lukewarm water and leave to rest for 10 minutes.
2. Mix the flour with the salt and bread spice.
3. Add the yeast mixture and knead into a smooth dough.
4. Knead in the carrots and walnuts, leave the dough to rise for 60 minutes.
5. Knead again, shape into a loaf and leave to rest for 30 minutes.
6. Brush with water and decorate with walnuts.
7. Bake at 200°C (top/bottom heat) for 35-40 minutes.

Tips for a successful Easter brunch:

• Bake a few loaves the day before – they taste wonderful the next morning too!
• Combine sweet and savory spreads for variety.
• Go for fresh ingredients: Eggs, cheese, fruit and homemade muesli go perfectly with it.
• Freshly ground flour produces the best aroma – a high-quality grain mill makes all the difference!