Best 3 Placek Swiateczny Polish Dessert Bread Recipes

PLACEK

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.

PLACEK SWIATECZNY (HOLIDAY BREAD), MARK'S

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

Steps:

• Put raisins in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover; set aside until raisins begin to plump, at least 15 minutes.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
• Heat milk and 1/2 cup butter together in a saucepan over medium-high heat until milk is heated just below boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool scalded milk to lukewarm temperature.
• Beat 1 cup sugar, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; add milk mixture and yeast mixture and stir until just combined. Drain raisins and stir into sugar mixture. Beat flour, 2 cups at a time, into sugar mixture, beating well after each addition until dough is well mixed. Set bowl in a warm area of the kitchen, cover with a clean towel, and allow dough to double in size, about 2 hours.
• Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.
• Beat dough down to release air and pour into the prepared loaf pans.
• Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 tablespoon butter together in a bowl using 2 knives in a scissor-like fashion until crumbly; sprinkle over dough. Allow dough to double in size, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 310 degrees F (154 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and cool on a wire rack.