The sugared braids are super soft Sicilian milk brioches made without eggs. It’s a leavened but light treat, simple to make and perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. These braids are delightful plain—usually sprinkled with sugar—or filled with various creams or jams. Below, let’s see together what you need to prepare these soft and well-known sugared braids at home:
Other brioche recipes:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 3 Hours
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 12Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 5 cups flour (half '00' and half Manitoba)
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 3.2 oz sugar
- one tablespoon of honey
- 4 tsp fresh baker's yeast
- grated zest of 1/2 orange and 1/2 lemon
- vanilla extract
- 7 tbsp lard (or butter)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- as needed milk (for brushing)
- as needed granulated sugar
Steps
Mix the two flours in a bowl with the baker’s yeast dissolved in the milk, the sugar and the honey.
Knead the dough for a few minutes, then add the vanilla extract and the grated orange and lemon zests. Gradually incorporate the lard (or soft butter cut into pieces) and the salt.
Once you have a well-developed dough that is smooth and elastic, cover it and let it rise at room temperature for about 2 hours, until doubled in volume.
After the necessary time, divide the dough into portions of about 3.2 oz each. Shape with your hands into rolls about 16–18 inches long and fold them in half to form a U.
Cross the roll to obtain a small braid and join the ends. Continue in the same way until all the dough is used, obtaining about 12 braids.
Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spaced apart, and brush them with a little milk. Let rise until doubled, about 50–60 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven at 356°F for 15–18 minutes; they should not brown too much. Remove from the oven, brush with milk, roll the braids in granulated sugar and serve.
Bon appétit and… see you next recipe!
If you try this recipe, be sure to tag #ipasticcinidinina on Instagram so I can see it and share it with the community.
