18+ Recipe For Serbian Christmas Bread Or Cesnica Ignite Your Passion For Cooking!
Published on: Mar 16, 2024
If you're looking to add a touch of Serbian tradition to your Christmas celebrations this year, why not try making your own Serbian Christmas bread, or cesnica? This delicious bread is a staple in many Serbian households during the holiday season and is often served as part of a special Christmas Eve dinner. Not only is it a tasty treat, but it also holds deep cultural and religious significance for the Serbian people. In this article, we'll provide you with a step-by-step recipe to create your very own cesnica, so you can bring a taste of Serbia to your holiday table.
Main Ingredients: Sugar, Butter, Vanilla, Large Eggs, Flour, Baking
There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread during the holiday season. And what better way to celebrate Christmas than with a delicious loaf of Christmas bread? This traditional holiday treat is enjoyed in many different countries around the world, each with their own unique twist on the recipe. From rich, sweet loaves studded with dried fruit to savory breads with herbs and spices, there's a Christmas bread for everyone's taste buds. Here are 20 amazing Christmas bread recipes that will make your holiday season even more festive and delicious.
If you've ever traveled to Italy during the holidays, you've probably seen the iconic panettone bread lining the shelves of every bakery and grocery store. This sweet and fluffy bread is typically filled with raisins or candied fruit and makes for a perfect breakfast or dessert. With this easy homemade recipe, you can bring a taste of Italy to your Christmas table without having to travel across the world.
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CHRISTMAS TREE PULL APART BREAD | HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS...
Main Ingredients: Water, Sugar, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour
Get creative with your Christmas bread and try making this festive Christmas tree pull apart bread. Made with pre-made pizza dough, this bread is stuffed with mozzarella cheese and topped with herbs and spices to resemble a Christmas tree. It's the perfect appetizer for any holiday gathering and is sure to impress your guests.
Looking for a way to use up leftover Christmas bread? Turn it into a delicious bread pudding! This warm and comforting dessert is made with layers of bread, eggs, milk, and spices, and can be customized with your favorite mix-ins like chocolate chips, dried fruit, or nuts. Serve it with a drizzle of vanilla custard sauce for the ultimate holiday treat.
In Norway, Christmas is celebrated with a special bread called julekake. This rich and buttery bread is flavored with cardamom and filled with dried fruit and nuts. It's typically served with a spread of butter and jam, making it the perfect addition to any holiday breakfast or brunch.
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Romanian Easter & Christmas Bread Cozonac
Main Ingredients: Milk, Granulated Sugar, Butter, Bread Flour, Active Dry
This Romanian Christmas bread, also known as cozonac, is a staple at holiday celebrations in Romania. It's a sweet bread filled with a mixture of nuts, honey, and spices, and is often topped with a glaze or sprinkled with powdered sugar. The dough is braided and formed into a wreath shape, making it a beautiful addition to your holiday table.
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Cranberry Christmas Bread
Main Ingredients: Milk, Butter, Eggs, Brown Sugar, Whole Wheat Pastry
Take advantage of the seasonal cranberries and make this delicious Christmas bread. This bread is flavored with orange zest and spices and studded with fresh cranberries for a burst of tartness. Serve it warm with a honey butter for a sweet and tangy holiday treat.
Another Italian favorite, this Christmas bread is a rich and decadent treat. It's made with a yeasted dough and filled with dried figs, almonds, and chocolate chips. The bread is then shaped into a wreath and topped with a sweet glaze and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It's a show-stopping dessert that will impress your guests.
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Viennese Christmas Bread
Main Ingredients: Dried Cranberries, Rum, Warm Water, Active Dry Yeast
In Austria, Christmas is celebrated with a delicious bread called stollen. This bread is similar to a fruitcake, but with a lighter and fluffier texture. It's filled with dried fruit, nuts, and spices and coated in powdered sugar. This is a great bread to make ahead of time as it gets better with age.
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A Christmas bread
Main Ingredients: Instant Yeast, Sugar, All Purpose Flour, Salt, Vanilla
This basic Christmas bread recipe is a great starting point for those new to making bread. The dough can be customized with your favorite mix-ins like dried fruit, nuts, or even chocolate chips. This bread is perfect for sandwiches or just slathered with butter and jam for a simple and delicious breakfast.
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Provencal Christmas Bread
Main Ingredients: Active Dry Yeast, Granulated Sugar, Honey, Flour, Salt
Add a touch of France to your holiday table with this Provencal Christmas bread. This bread is made with an olive oil-based dough and filled with a mixture of olives, anchovies, and herbs. It's a savory and flavorful bread that pairs well with a cheese platter or a hearty soup.
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CZECH CHRISTMAS BREAD (VÁNOČKA)
Main Ingredients: Milk, White Sugar, Dried Yeast, All Purpose Flour
This traditional Czech Christmas bread, also known as vánočka, is a sweet and buttery braid filled with raisins and almonds. The dough is enriched with eggs and milk, giving it a soft and tender crumb. It's a beautiful and delicious addition to any holiday meal.
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Panettone [Italian Christmas Bread]
Main Ingredients: Raisins, Light Rum, Hot Water, All Purpose Flour
If you're a fan of panettone, you'll love this homemade version. This recipe is a bit more involved than others, but the end result is worth it. The bread is flavored with citrus zest and filled with dried fruit, almonds, and chocolate chips. It's perfect for gifting or enjoying with a cup of coffee during the holiday season.
Another version of the traditional Norwegian Christmas bread, this julekake is made with a spiced dough and filled with raisins and candied fruit. The bread is typically topped with a simple glaze and sprinkled with almonds. It's a beautiful and delicious addition to any holiday table.
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Yulekaga (Scandinavian Christmas Bread)
Main Ingredients: Milk, Active Dry Yeast, Lukewarm Water, Granulated
This Scandinavian Christmas bread, also known as yulekaga, is a sweet and rich bread filled with dried fruit and nuts. The dough is flavored with cardamom and shaped into a wreath, making it a festive addition to your holiday spread. Serve it warm with a spiced butter for a truly decadent treat.
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Greek Christmas Bread - Christopsomos
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Poolish, Salt
In Greece, Christmas is celebrated with a special bread called christopsomos. This bread is flavored with honey, orange zest, and spices and is typically shaped into a round loaf with a cross on the top. It's a symbol of the birth of Jesus and is often served on Christmas day with a cup of hot tea or coffee .
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Stollen (German Christmas Bread)
Main Ingredients: Raisins, Candied Lemon Peel, Candied Orange Peel
This German Christmas bread, also known as stollen, is a rich and buttery treat filled with dried fruit, nuts, and marzipan. The dough is shaped into a log and dusted with powdered sugar, resembling a snowy landscape. It's a festive and delicious bread that is a must-try during the holiday season.
Another version of the traditional Norwegian Christmas bread, this julekake is made with a spiced dough and filled with raisins and candied fruit. The bread is typically topped with a simple glaze and sprinkled with almonds. It's a beautiful and delicious addition to any holiday table.
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Fruit & Berry Christmas Bread
Main Ingredients: Milk, Egg, Butter, Salt, Flour, Sugar, Ginger, Canela
This fruit and berry Christmas bread is a perfect way to incorporate seasonal fruits into your holiday baking. It's filled with a mixture of dried fruit, fresh berries, and nuts, and flavored with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve it warm with a honey cream cheese spread for a delicious and festive treat.
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Cranberry Eggnog Christmas Bread
Main Ingredients: Unsalted Butter, Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Dark Brown
This Christmas bread is a festive twist on the classic eggnog flavor. The bread is flavored with eggnog and studded with fresh cranberries, making it a perfect treat for the holiday season. Serve it warm with a dollop of whipped cream for a truly indulgent dessert.
Ingredients and Equipment
Before diving into the recipe, it's important to gather all the necessary ingredients and equipment to ensure a successful outcome. Here's what you'll need:
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup warm milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped dried figs
1/2 cup chopped dried dates
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
Equipment:
Large mixing bowl
Wooden spoon
Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Rolling pin
Knife
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Yeast
In a small bowl, mix the active dry yeast with the lukewarm water and 1 tbsp of the sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes until the yeast becomes frothy.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and ground allspice. Mix well.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the melted butter, warm milk, eggs, and the frothy yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Step 4: Knead the Dough
Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
Step 5: Add the Filling
In a separate bowl, mix together the chopped walnuts, dried apricots, dried figs, dried dates, dried cranberries, dried cherries, and remaining sugar. Spread the mixture over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
Step 6: Shape the Bread
Roll up the dough tightly, sealing the edges. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and shape it into a ring. Using a knife, make deep cuts around the bread, almost to the bottom, to create a decorative pattern.
Step 7: Let it Rise
Cover the bread with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
Step 8: Bake the Bread
Preheat your oven to 375°F and bake the bread for 40-45 minutes, or until it becomes golden brown.
Step 9: Enjoy!
Once the bread is done baking, let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This delicious and festive bread is best enjoyed with your loved ones on Christmas Eve.
By following this recipe, you can create your very own Serbian Christmas bread and add a touch of tradition to your holiday celebrations. Serve it as part of a special dinner or enjoy it as a tasty snack throughout the holiday season. However you choose to enjoy it, this cesnica will surely be a hit with your family and friends.
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