Lemon and Almond Zopf (Braided Loaf). Great recipe for Lemon and Almond Zopf (Braided Loaf). I wanted to eat a sweet bread, so I made these with ingredients I had on hand. Mix the lemon juice and granulated sugar together just before using.

Remove to rack and while still hot, with a toothpick poke holes all over the top of the loaf, and spoon glaze evenly over. Glaze: Combine lemon juice and sugar in saucepan. Stir and heat till sugar is dissolved. You can cook Lemon and Almond Zopf (Braided Loaf) using 12 ingredients and 16 steps. Here is how you cook that.

Ingredients of Lemon and Almond Zopf (Braided Loaf)

It's 210 grams of Bread (strong) flour.
You need 50 grams of Unsalted butter (room temperature).
Prepare 25 grams of Sugar (I used light brown sugar).
It's 120 ml of Milk (about 40°C).
Prepare 1 1/3 tsp of ☆Dry yeast.
You need 1/2 tsp of ☆Sugar.
It's 20 ml of ☆ Lukewarm water (about 40°C).
It's 1/2 tsp of Natural salt.
You need 3 of to 4 tablespoons Sliced almonds.
Prepare 1 of lemon worth Grated lemon zest.
Prepare 1 1/2 tbsp of Granulated sugar.
You need 1 tbsp of Unsalted butter, melted.

Add eggs, lemon zest + juice, almond extract, almond milk, and sour cream to the wet mixture. Slowly stir in the dry ingredeitns and pour this mixture in a bread pan. Continue down the entire braid, alternating strips to form the loaf. For a helpful visual of this process, see our video: How to make a filled braid.

Lemon and Almond Zopf (Braided Loaf) step by step

Combine the ☆ ingredients in a container, and leave to pre-proof. When it is bubbly and the mixture is 2-3 times its original volume, it's done. This takes about 10 minutes..
While the step 1 mixture is pre-proofing, combine the bread flour, sugar, butter and lukewarm (40°C) milk in a bowl, and mix together with your fingers..
When the yeast has finished proofing, add it to the step 2 bowl and mix in well again. Finally, add the salt and knead it in well..
When the dough has come together in the bowl, transfer it to a work surface. Knead it well by pushing it out away from you, rolling it up and repeating..
When the surface of the dough is smooth and finely textured, round it off into a ball with a smooth surface. Place in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap..
Leave the dough for its 1st rising, about an hour at 35°C, until it's 2 to 2.5 times its original volume..
Transfer the dough gently to a floured work surface, and slap it down with both palms to deflate. Cut into 4 wedges using a pastry cutter..
Fold the dough towards the center and round it off. Cover with a tightly wrung out moistened kitchen towel and leave the dough to rest for 15 minutes..
Mix the grated lemon zest and granulated sugar together well..
Take the dough out from under the kitchen towel, and roll out with a rolling pin to about 15 x 10 cm..
Divide the step 9 sugar-lemon mixture into 4 portions. Spread the mixture and the sliced almonds on the rolled out dough, leaving 2cm clear on one side. Roll it up to form a cylinder..
Pinch the seam securely closed..
Place the dough seam side down, and make two cuts in it, leaving 2cm at the end. When you cut the dough, the layers of the dough will be revealed, so be careful not to destroy them when you cut..
Braid the dough, and pinch the ends together. Fold the pinched ends under the roll a little, which secures them..
Line up the braided rolls on a kitchen parchment paper lined baking sheet, cover with a tightly wrung out moistened kitchen towel and leave for the 2nd rising for 30 minutes at 35°C..
Brush the rolls with melted butter. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, then cool on a rack. Done..

Repeat the rolling, filling, and braiding steps for the second piece of dough, using the remaining cream cheese filling and lemon curd. There were many ways to make a "Hair Sacrifice" be it the shaved monks head or giving a braid to a relative to honor the deceased. The hair was considered in some cultures the best part of a person. For the bread: In a small bowl, mix the buttermilk (or yogurt) with the lemon juice and zest (or lemon oil), and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.