Best Hoska Czechoslovakian Christmas Bread Recipes

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CZECH CHRISTMAS HOSKA



Czech Christmas Hoska image

Traditional Czechoslovakian Christmas Bread. Serve with butter. Some people toast it, use jelly, or even butter and powdered sugar...depending upon local customs and family preference. It is a day-long project, but well worth the effort.

Provided by Carol Ponec-Nemec

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes

Time 5h30m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 (0.6 ounce) cake compressed fresh yeast
¼ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
½ cup white sugar
½ cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups scalded milk
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 pinch ground ginger
1 pinch ground mace
¼ teaspoon orange zest
½ cup golden raisins
½ cup candied mixed fruit peel
½ cup blanched slivered almonds
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon milk
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Dissolve yeast in warm water.
  • In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add beaten egg and salt. Stir in cooled milk and then the yeast. Add 1 1/2 cups sifted flour; beat into a smooth batter. Cover and let rise until light, about one hour.
  • Stir spices and dried orange zest into the sponge. Add 4 1/2 cups of flour to make a soft dough. Place on a lightly floured board, and knead until smooth and elastic. Knead in raisins and candied peel. Put in a well oiled bowl, and turn once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover. Set aside to rise until double in bulk, about 2 hours.
  • Divide dough into ten parts, roll into desired lengths, and let rise about 15 minutes.
  • On a heavily greased baking sheet, make a braid of three parts, beginning in the center and working braid loosely toward each end. Pinch ends together. Twist the remaining two pieces together, and place on the base of the braid. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolk and milk; brush the loaf with this mixture. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the loaf. Repeat process for second loaf. Let rise about 45 minutes.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Transfer bread to a wire rack, and cool completely. Cover while cooling with a tea towel to make a soft crust. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 177.3 calories, Carbohydrate 29.4 g, Cholesterol 22.3 mg, Fat 4.9 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 110 mg, Sugar 6.2 g

HOSKA - CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD



Hoska - Czechoslovakian Christmas Bread image

My grandmother taught me how to make Hoska, a Czechoslovakian Christmas Bread. It is a sweet bread that I normally reheat and spread with butter.

Provided by maureenebrown

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 4h

Yield 1 loaf, 24 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry yeast
2 cups warm milk
1 cup sugar
3 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
1 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
8 cups flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 orange rind, grated
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 cup sliced almonds

Steps:

  • Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water until bubbly. To the warm milk add soft butter, salt, sugar, vanilla, spices and orange rind. Let cool to lukewarm.
  • Add yeast mixture and beaten eggs and mix well. Sift in 4 cups flour, stirring well, add raisins and nuts alternately. Then add remaining flour, beat until dough does not stick to bowl.
  • Turn out on floured board and knead until smooth and elastic about 8 or 10 minutes. Put in greased bowl, cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough and divide in half. This make 2 loaves.
  • Cut 4 large and 5 smaller portions, roll each into long rolls. Braid the 4 rolls forming a loaf. Put on pan lined with greased brown paper. Braid the 3 smaller rolls and place on top, then remaining 2 pieces on top.
  • Brush with beaten egg whites in a little water. Let rise to double in bulk. For rich crust brush with melted butter during baking. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, lower temperature to 325 degrees for 45 minutes longer depending on how you like it.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 321.4, Fat 11.8, SaturatedFat 5.9, Cholesterol 65.3, Sodium 221, Carbohydrate 47, Fiber 2, Sugar 12.3, Protein 7.3

HOUSKA - BOHEMIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD



Houska - Bohemian Christmas Bread image

This is a traditional Bohemian Christmas Bread. It's along the same lines of the German Christmas Stollen. Houska is pronounced - "ho-ska". I prefer this over the German Version because I don't like the taste of the traditional dried, candied Christmas fruit.

Provided by Lori Borgmann

Categories     Other Breads

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/2 c whole milk - scalded
1/3 c butter
1/2 c almonds - chopped
1/4 c dark rasins
1/4 c golden raisins
5 1/2 - 6 c flour
1 Tbsp yeast (dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water.)
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg - beaten
1 tsp salt

Steps:

  • 1. Dissolve yeast in water. Combine sugar and butter. When combined add beaten egg and salt. Stir in the scalded milk AFTER IT HAS COOLED and the yeast. Add 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Let rise about 1/2 hour. Add almonds and raisins. Mix well. Add rest of the flour to make a soft dough. Turn on board and knead until smooth. Place in a greased bowl and let rise about 45 minutes. Punch down in bowl and let rise again for 45 minutes. Then put in two greased bread pans. Let rise again for another 45 minutes. Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees. Brush with beaten egg and 1 Tablespoon of water before baking.
  • 2. This is time consuming so make sure you have plenty of time on your hands! Letting the dough rise multiple times is key to this bread! Once you taste it you will realize that it was well worth the work! A stand mixer works great when making sweet breads!

HOSKA



Hoska image

I got this recipe from my mother in law. Her family has been making it for several years, and its a tradition at Christmas for us. It's a Czechoslovakian recipe. You can do variations from the citron and raisins if you wish. My mother in law uses different fruits that are used in fruitcake.

Provided by Amy Cook Provstgaard

Categories     Sweet Breads

Time 3h10m

Number Of Ingredients 14

3/4 c milk
3/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c margarine
1/2 c warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
2 pkg active dry yeast
2 eggs
5 1/2 c unsifted flour
1/4 c chopped citron
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c chopped almonds
melted butter or margarine
1 egg
1/4 c whole blanched almonds

Steps:

  • 1. Scald milk; stir in sugar, salt and margarine. cool to lukewarm.
  • 2. Measure warm water into large warm bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast; stir until dissolved. Stir in lukewarm milk mixture, 2 eggs, and 3 cups flour.
  • 3. Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough. Turn out onto lightly floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in size.
  • 4. Punch down. Turn out onto lightly floured board. Knead in citron, raisins, and chopped almonds until well distributed. Divide into four equal pieces. Set 2 pieces aside.
  • 5. Divide one piece into 3 equal strips about 14 inches long. Place the 3 strips on a large greased baking sheet; form into braid. Brush top of braid with melted margarine.
  • 6. Divide 2/3 of the second piece into 3 equal strips about 12 inches long. Form into a second braid and place on top of the first braid. Brush top with melted margarine.
  • 7. With remaining dough from second piece, make a third braid about 10 inches long and place on top of second braid.
  • 8. Form second bread with reserved dough. Cover; let rise in warm place free from draft until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
  • 9. Beat 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water together until well blended. Brush braided loaves with egg mixture. Decorate with whole blanched almonds.
  • 10. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes. Loaves will be well browned.

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