Best Placek Swiateczny Polish Dessert Bread Recipes

Placek Swiateczny (Holiday Bread), Mark's image

Provided by Megan Stewart @GSMegan

Number Of Ingredients 12

5 eggs
2 cup(s) powdered sugar
1/2 pound(s) butter, creamed
3 tablespoon(s) vodka
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla
1 tablespoon(s) grated lemon rind
2 teaspoon(s) powder
2 1/4 cup(s) flour
3/4 cup(s) walnuts, finely chopped
2/3 cup(s) raisins
4 ounce(s) candied orange rind, finely chopped
1 teaspoon(s) cornstarch

Steps:

Beat the eggs with the sugar for 5 minutes at high speed. Add to the butter by small portions Add vodka, vanilla, and lemon rind, beating constantly. Add the baking powder and flour, beat 5 more minutes until the batter is thick. Mix the nuts, raisins, orange rind and cornstarch separately, then fold into the batter Bake at 350F for 1 hour in a loaf pan that has been buttered and floured or buttered and sprinkled with bread crumbs.
Notes: I've tried it both ways, and find the bread crumbs do a better job than flouring the pan.

Placek image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes 3 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 1/4 cups milk
2 packages Rapid Rise dry yeast
2 1/4 cups plus 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
8 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
Nonstick cooking spray
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter, plus more for bowl and pans
Zest of 1/2 orange
5 large eggs
1/2 to 1 1/2 cups golden raisins

Steps:

Heat milk in a small saucepan until it reaches 110 degrees. Remove from heat; stir in yeast and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar until completely dissolved. Let stand until foamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer yeast mixture to a stainless steel bowl. Add 2 cups flour and stir to combine. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough. Cover parchment with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together 1 1/2 sticks butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, orange zest, eggs, and 2 cups flour.
Change mixer attachment to a dough hook and add yeast mixture to mixer bowl. Mix together on low. With the mixer running, slowly add 2 cups flour and raisins. Butter a large bowl and add dough. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough. Let rise until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together remaining 2 cups flour, 1 stick butter, and 1 cup sugar until crumbly.
Butter three 9-by-5-by-3-inch (8-cup) loaf pans and divide dough evenly between them; top each with crumbs. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough; let rise until rounded over the top.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Transfer placek to oven and bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 1 hour in pan before removing. Store at room temperature, up to 1 week.

Grandma's Placek image

Provided by John 11-44

Categories Breads

Time 4h40m

Yield 5-6 Loves, 50 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 cups whole milk
1 lb butter (4 sticks)
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla
10 eggs
2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry yeast (not rapid rise)
1/2 cup very warm water (not too hot, see yeast package)
6 cups flour (approximately)
1 lb golden raisin (mixed with flour to prevent sticking)
1/2 cup sugar (or mixture of white and brown sugar)
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter

Steps:

Warm milk over low heat until scalded (soft bubbles form around edge of pot) but not boiling.
Add butter and remove from heat.
Mix in sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla. Let cool.
Meanwhile, sprinkle yeast into water in 2 cup measure,
stir in 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
Let stand undisturbed to "proof" about 10 minutes.
Add eggs to milk mixture, one at a time, beating well.
Add yeast-in-water mixture.
Add flour with raisins.
Knead dough 5 minutes, adding extra flour as needed.
Placed kneaded dough into greased pan and grease top of dough to prevent it from drying out. Keep warm to rise until double, about 1 to 2 hours.
Knead dough again (for 5 minutes) and put into greased loaf pans. Let rise 1 to 2 hours again.
This recipe makes approximately 1 bunt, 2 large and 2 small loaf pans.
Crumble topping ingredients together.
Add topping to bread in loaf pans.
Preheat oven and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.
Bread is done when tester comes out clean.