The Easter „Striezel“ (a type of braided sweet bread) is a tradition that may trace its roots all the way back to ancient Egypt. There, widows are said to have placed braided dough into their late husbands’ graves – as a symbol of mourning and respect. In our region, a similar custom once existed with the Allerheiligenstriezel, which was given to children and the poor on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, encouraging them to pray for the deceased. In some areas, these Striezels were even placed on graves as offerings for the dead, who were believed to return to earth during the night between the two holy days. At Easter, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection – the triumph over death – and one way to mark the occasion is by baking an Easter Striezel. Ours, of course, includes nutritious hemp. ;-)
Ingredients for 2 Striezels
- 500 g wheat flour
- 100 g sugar
- approx. ½ cube of fresh yeast (or 1 packet of dry yeast)
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 100 g melted butter
- 2 eggs
- approx. 80 g MEDIHEMP Organic Hemp Nuts
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar
For brushing & topping
- 1 egg
- Pearl sugar for sprinkling
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and a pinch of salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the lukewarm milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla sugar using a hand mixer.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and knead into a smooth dough. Then add the hemp seeds and knead them evenly into the dough.
- Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and divide it into three equal parts. Shape each into a strand that’s slightly thicker in the middle than at the ends. Braid the strands into a plaited loaf and press the ends firmly together.
- Place the Striezel on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and let it rise again for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F).
- After rising, brush the Striezel with beaten egg and sprinkle with pearl sugar.
- Bake for approx. 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.
TIP: Easter Striezel tastes best fresh – served with butter, jam, or even MEDIHEMP Organic Hemp Nut Cream.
Happy baking and have a wonderful Easter!
