My favourite thing to do at this time of year is EAT – but more specifically, to graze. You know, it’s a snacky time of year and I’m a snacky kind of gal. Actually that’s not true, most of the time I’m not really a snacker, but come the twinkling lights and Christmas trees, I guess I let myself off the hook.
This beautifully tender loaf is a cultural mash-up that I have basically no business doing, since I am neither Jewish nor Scandinavian. But when the idea came to me to combine a saffron-scented St Lucia bun with eggy, doughy challah, it was too good to pass up!
Check out The Most Cozy, Delicious, Warming Winter Drinks!
by Sarah Coates at Foodie.com
Especially because a slice of this challah, slathered in butter while it’s still warm from the oven, is about the perfect thing to serve to friends if you happen to have any over for the holidays. And what better thing to serve with, than a delicious, warming drink or cocktail. Lucky for us, the lovely folks at Foodie have sponsored this post and you can find all my favourite Winter Drinks in the collection above!
Once you’ve pressed a cup of s0mething delicious and a buttery slice of Saint Lucia Challah into your friend’s hands, you might want to tell them a little about St Lucy’s Day, which just happens to be tomorrow the 13th of December (get baking, ya’ll). The feast of St Lucia used to fall on the longest night of the year in the Nordic countries, so it became a celebration of light.
In Sweden on St Lucia’s Day, the eldest daughter of the family would wear a white gown and red sash, with a wreath of nine candles on her head, and wake up her family by singing and serving them coffee and Lussekatter – I’d love to know if this still goes on! As a bratty kid, I can’t imagine ever doing that for my siblings.
Similar celebrations go on in all the Nordic countries, but it’s the buttery little yellow buns that interested me the most! And I have to say I am immensely happy with how this gorgeous loaf came out. I based the dough recipe on Molly’s marzipan challah, and it worked a treat.
What are you giving out to friends and visitors this Christmas? And what’s your favourite holiday drink?
xx Sarah
- 1 pinch saffron
- ¾ cup (185ml) warm water
- 1 tbsp dried yeast
- ¼ cup sugar + 2 tsps
- ⅓ cup raisins
- 2 tbsp rum (optional)
- 3 cups (450g) plain flour
- 2 eggs + 1 extra, for egg wash
- ⅓ cup oil (I used canola, but any flavourless oil will work)
- Place the saffron, water, yeast and 2 tsps of sugar into a small jug and stir to dissolve. Set aside for 10 minutes to activate.
- Place the raisins and rum into a small saucepan and bring to the boil, then turn off the heat. Alternatively, place in a microwave safe bowl and zap them on high for 30 seconds.
- Place the remaining sugar and flour into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. When the yeast mixture has activated, add that to the flour, along with the soaked raisins, eggs and oil.
- Work on a low speed for 7-10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. It's a damp dough, but it should be climbing the dough hook. If it's too wet, add up to a cup of extra flour.
- Cover the bowl with cling wrap and set aside to rise for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Knock the dough down, and turn it out onto a floured surface. Split the dough into three pieces and roll each piece out into a 10 inch log. Braid the three logs together and place the loafonto a lined baking sheet.
- Leave the challah to rise for a further 30 minutes, and preheat the oven to 350F/180C.
- When the dough has risen, beat the remaining egg and brush the loaf with the egg wash. Bake for 20 minutes, and then tent the loaf in foil and bake for a further 20 minutes. It should be dark golden brown. Leave to cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.
Friday just got 10 times better! This bread looks so incredibly fluffy!
It is definitely a snacky time of year. I went to a dinner party tonight and everyone brought a plate of nibblies and by the time dinner was on the table, we were all full.
I love this bread!
That’s the thing, you gotta be careful about, isn’t it Maureen! Ah well, it’s the season of excess I guess.
Nice little history lesson here! These bread looks amazing! Love it! I’m making tons of homemade edible gifts this year. Hot cocoa mix with homemade marhsmallows, preserved lemons, homemade baileys. AND I’ve made over 150 jars of salted caramel sauce. Whew! I’m pooped all ready and it isn’t even Christmas yet! I definitely need some carbs and a drink to get me through!
Saw this article in the NY Times last week, whch mentions food traditions on St. Lucia’s Day; it sounds like the candle/wreath/waking-family-up-for-coffee tradition lives on!
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/07/magazine/Diverse-Holiday-Feasts-From-Five-New-York-Families.html
That’s INSANE! Thank you so much for this link, I’m so intrigued about this!
OH EM GEEEEE!!!!! it is like me and scandinavian eggboy in one loaf of bread!!!!!!!!!!! love love love it!
I didn’t even think of that! It’s a Wedding Loaf!!! With love, from me to you!
This is beautiful and delicious-looking! Kudos to trying out culturally different recipes. Can’t wait to try it.
That looks delicious! I love baking bread this time of year and yours looks so fluffy! Thanks for sharing the recipe. And I agree – Christmas is a time to graze (so many yummy treats)!
I love love love baking with saffron, but hardly ever see it done well. This is totally gorgeous – the perfect color of yellow + brown.
Heard alll dat, about grazing at holiday time.
That tradition is still going on in some families, but usually all the kids to it together for their parents. As a child we didn’t do it for our mother but we used to go around to all the neighbors and sing and give them lussekatter, pepparkakor and glogg! It’s a great tradition that I miss living here in tel aviv, not much Christmas celebrations at all around here ;)
I LOVE THAT TRADITION!!!!! What a beautiful thing to do at Christmas! Sorry you’re missing out on all the festivities this year.
What a beautiful challah!!! It came out perfect and looks so tender and delicious…i could have a slice with a warm cup of rooibos chai latte. :-)
xoxox
ooooh I love how you merged these 2 beautiful kinds of bread into one super gorgeoeeeooous loaf!