Hefezopf Recipe | German Braided Sweet Bread

What Is Hefezopf?

Hefezopf is a traditional German braided yeast bread. The name combines Hefe, meaning yeast, and Zopf, meaning braid. The dough is enriched with milk, butter, egg, sugar, vanilla sugar, and a little lemon zest, giving it a soft texture and gently sweet flavor.

The bread is shaped into three long ropes, braided, brushed with egg wash, and baked until golden. It can be topped with sliced almonds or pearl sugar, and raisins can be added to the dough if desired.

Hefezopf Recipe | German Braided Sweet Bread

Hefezopf is a soft, lightly sweet German braided yeast bread made with flour, milk, fresh yeast, butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, egg, and lemon zest. Brushed with egg wash and topped with sliced almonds or pearl sugar, this golden bread is perfect for breakfast, brunch, Easter, holidays, or Kaffee und Kuchen.

Servings 1 braid

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Ingredients

  

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For the Dough

• 500 g wheat flour Type 405 or Type 550
• 80 g sugar
• 1 packet vanilla sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• A little grated organic lemon zest
• 80 g soft butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cube fresh yeast
• 250 ml milk
• 50 g raisins or sultanas optional

For Brushing

• 1 egg yolk
• A little milk

For Topping

• Sliced almonds or pearl sugar

Instructions

 

• Warm the milk until lukewarm. Dissolve the fresh yeast in the milk.
• Add the flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, salt, lemon zest, butter, and egg to a large mixing bowl.
• Add the yeast-milk mixture.
• Knead well until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
• Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for about 80 to 90 minutes.
• Knead the dough once more.
• Divide the dough into three equal pieces and shape each piece into a long rope.
• Braid the three ropes together to form a loaf.
• Carefully place the braid on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Cover and let rise again for about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Whisk the egg yolk with a little milk and brush the mixture over the braid.
• Sprinkle with pearl sugar or sliced almonds.
• Preheat the oven to about 200°C / 390°F.
• Bake for about 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, cover the braid loosely with aluminum foil if it is browning too quickly.
• Let cool before slicing.

Notes

Tips for the Best Hefezopf

The milk should be lukewarm, not hot, so the yeast can activate properly. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then give it enough time to rise.

For a festive bread, use both sliced almonds and pearl sugar. For a fruitier version, add the optional raisins or sultanas.

What to Serve with Hefezopf

Serve Hefezopf with butter, jam, honey, fruit preserves, chocolate spread, coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. It is especially popular for breakfast, brunch, Easter, and afternoon coffee.

Course: Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert