Sweet bread and I need help with sourdough starter
I finally have a sourdough starter again and this time I'm going to dehydrate some before I kill it again! LOL. I've tried google and can't seem to find any answers.....Do I dehydrate it after feeding it or when my starter is at it's peak? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
Growing up I used to watch my Aunty make this bread all the time, it was her specialty. I would sit in her kitchen in total amazement as she braided the bread. My Aunty now lives in a retirement village with no kitchen in her unit and mentioned that she really misses having a piece of Hefezopf with her coffee. Last weekend I baked her some and went for a visit, the bread brought a tear to her eyes! She got on her walking frame and showed the staff and her friends, I have never seen a person move so fast on a walking frame LOL! Listening to her tell her friends stories about the bread almost made me cry, but cry in a good way :)
- 500 grams plain flour
- 1 packet (7grams) dry yeast
- 90 grams softened butter
- 1 packet vanilla sugar
- 50 grams sugar
- 90ml lukewarm milk
- 150ml lukewarm cream
- 1 egg
- pinch of salt
- Egg yolk and milk wash for glazing
Mix all ingredients into a smooth silky, soft dough. Set aside to rise for 40 minutes covered in a warm spot (till the dough has doubled in size). Divide dough into 3 pieces (for one big braid) or 9 pieces (for three smaller braids) Roll into long strips and braid. Allow braids to rest for 30 minutes in a warm post covered in plastic wrap and then brush with egg yolk/milk wash and sprinkle with course sugar and bake in oven on 180 degrees C forĀ 20 mins (smaller loaves) 30 mins (larger loaves).
Cheers Sonia