Knush (Sweet Holiday Bread)
A traditional Belarusian sweet bread, enriched with eggs and butter, often studded with dried fruits. It's a festive and aromatic loaf perfect for holidays and special occasions.
🧂 Ingredients
- 240 ml Warm milk
- 7 g Active dry yeast
- 100 g Granulated sugar(divided)
- 2 large Large eggs(room temperature)
- 80 g Unsalted butter(melted and slightly cooled)
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- 1 tsp Salt
- 450 g All-purpose flour(plus more for dusting)
- 100 g Dried fruit(such as raisins, cranberries, or chopped apricots (optional))
- 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp milk Egg wash(for brushing)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and salt.
💡 Tip: Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better incorporation. - 3
Add the foamy yeast mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
💡 Tip: If the yeast mixture is not foamy, it may be inactive; start again with fresh yeast. - 4
Gradually add the flour, stirring until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- 5
If using dried fruit, gently knead it into the dough until evenly distributed.
💡 Tip: Be careful not to overwork the dough once the fruit is added. - 6
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
💡 Tip: A slightly warm oven (turned off) is a good place for dough to rise. - 7
Punch down the dough and shape it into a round loaf. Place it in a greased 9-inch round cake pan or a loaf pan.
💡 Tip: For a more traditional shape, a tall, narrow pan can be used. - 8
Cover the shaped dough again and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, until almost doubled.
- 9
Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Brush the top of the risen dough with the egg wash.
💡 Tip: The egg wash gives the bread a beautiful golden-brown sheen. - 10
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
💡 Tip: If the top starts to brown too quickly, loosely tent it with aluminum foil. - 11
Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
💡 Tip: Allowing the bread to cool completely ensures a better texture.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓This bread is delicious served on its own or with butter.
- ✓For an extra festive touch, you can decorate the top with icing or candied fruits after cooling.
🔄 Variations
- Add a teaspoon of ground cardamom or cinnamon for a warmer spice profile.
- Incorporate chopped nuts like walnuts or almonds along with the dried fruit.