Mother's sweet bread

Mother's Sweet Bread: A Family Recipe with Love

Sweet bread is one of the most beloved culinary traditions, often associated with holidays and special moments spent with loved ones. This sweet bread recipe, inspired by grandma's recipes, highlights the perfect combination of flavors and textures, resulting in a fluffy and delicious dessert. Preparing it may take some time, but each step is an opportunity to enjoy the cooking process and create unforgettable memories.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Rising time: 1-2 hours
Baking time: 45-50 minutes
Total: 2-3 hours
Servings: 10-12

Necessary Ingredients for Mother's Sweet Bread

1 kg of flour (type 650, for a slightly elastic texture)
250 g of butter (at room temperature)
1 cup of warm milk (approximately 250 ml)
1 cup of sugar (200 g)
3 cubes of fresh yeast (or 7 g of dry yeast)
4 eggs (preferably at room temperature)
8 tablespoons of sunflower oil
1 teaspoon of salt
2-3 tablespoons of liquid honey
Grated zest of 1 lemon
3-4 tablespoons of vanilla sugar (or 3 packets)
A splash of rum essence
Filling of choice:
Raisins (approximately 200 g, soaked in milk and rum)
Cocoa (2-3 tablespoons)
Ground walnuts (optional, 100 g)
Cinnamon (optional, for extra flavor)

Preparing the Dough

1. Prepare the ingredients: 2-3 hours before starting, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. This will help activate the yeast and contribute to a fluffier dough. Preheat the oven to 180°C (or 160°C with ventilation) 1 hour before starting to knead.

2. Sifting the flour: In a large bowl, sift 1 kg of flour. This will help aerate the flour and prevent clumping.

3. Preparing the yeast: In a small bowl, mix the yeast cubes with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar until they become a cream. In another small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of flour with a little warm milk to form the yeast mixture. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes until bubbles form on the surface.

4. Mixing the ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs together with 1 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, lemon zest, and rum essence. Then, pour the mixture over the sifted flour, followed by the activated yeast mixture.

5. Kneading the dough: When you start kneading, make sure all ingredients are well integrated. Gradually add 8 tablespoons of oil and the soft butter (not liquid), continuing to knead vigorously for about 1 hour. The dough should become elastic and smooth. If you ever have doubts about how much to add, remember: better less than too much! An oily sweet bread will not have the desired texture.

6. Rising: After you finish kneading, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then with a clean towel and a thick blanket. Let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until it has doubled in volume.

Filling the Sweet Bread

1. Preparing the filling: You can choose your favorite filling, but a classic combination is raisins and cocoa. Soak the raisins in warm milk and a little rum for about an hour, then drain them well. If you wish, you can add ground walnuts and cinnamon for a more complex flavor.

2. Rolling out the dough: Once the dough has risen, place it on a floured surface and divide it into two or three parts, depending on how many sweet breads you want to make. Roll each piece of dough into a rectangle, about 1 cm thick.

3. Adding the filling: Sprinkle cocoa, raisins, and, if using, ground walnuts over each rectangle. Carefully roll the dough, forming a tight roll. Make sure the filling is well distributed.

4. Shaping and placing in the pan: Place the rolls in baking pans lined with parchment paper, making sure to leave space between them to allow for rising. You can braid them or leave them simple, depending on your preferences.

Baking

1. Second rising: Cover the sweet breads with a towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes.

2. Baking: Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake the sweet breads for 45-50 minutes or until they are golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. If you notice they are browning too quickly, you can cover them with aluminum foil in the last 10-15 minutes of baking.

3. Cooling: Once baked, let the sweet breads cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serving the Sweet Bread

The sweet bread is served warm or at room temperature, cut into generous slices. It is delicious alongside a cup of tea or coffee, but also with a glass of milk. You can dust it with powdered sugar for a festive look or serve it with fruit jams for an even more intense flavor.

Nutritional Benefits

Sweet bread is a good source of carbohydrates, but also of healthy fats due to the butter and oil. Adding walnuts and raisins enriches the dish with vitamins and minerals, making it not only a delicious dessert but also nutritious.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use dry yeast instead of fresh yeast?
Absolutely! You can use 7 g of dry yeast, but make sure to give it time to activate according to the instructions on the package.

2. What other fillings can I use?
You can experiment with chocolate, fruit jams, or even leave them simple, with just vanilla sugar and butter.

3. How can I store the sweet bread?
The sweet bread stores well in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. You can freeze it if you want to keep it longer.

Mother's sweet bread is more than just a dessert; it is an experience filled with love and tradition. I wish you happy cooking and to enjoy every moment spent in the kitchen!