Houska (Braided Bread)

Submitted to recipegoldmine.com by Roy Vyskocil

1 package yeast
3 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup warm water
3/4 cup scalded milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup margarine
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/4 - 4 3/4 cups flour, divided
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Mix the honey and warm water to dissolve, add yeast. In a small saucepan, heat the milk almost to boiling point, then remove from heat. Combine the scalded milk, sugar, margarine, and salt; cool to lukewarm.

Stir 1 cup of flour into milk mixture, beat well. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add eggs and beat well. Add mace, raisins, and almonds. Add 3 more cups of flour, stirring to make a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding flour a little at a time to keep dough from sticking. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning the dough once to grease all sides. Cover and let rise in a warm place until dough is double in size (about 1 hour).

Punch down dough and divide into 5 pieces, 3 the same size, 2 slightly smaller. The 3 larger pieces are rolled out to form a 17-inch roll and then braided together. This is the bottom row. The 2 smaller pieces are rolled out and twisted together and placed on top of the 3-braid piece, tucking the ends under. Assemble on a cookie sheet with parchment paper on the diagonal. Let the Houska rise in a warm place until about double in size.

rush the tops with milk. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the tops lightly with butter when the loaves are still warm for a softer crust.