Viennese Christmas Bread Recipe

Published: Nov 29, 2015 Last Updated: Jun 4, 2023 by Marye 1573 words. | About 8 minutes to read this article.

A whole wheat sweet bread with orange and vanilla flavors studded with candied cherries and dried cranberries is a welcome gift during the holidays. It makes the most amazing French toast ever.

Prep Time 4

Cook Time 40

Total Time 4 40

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This Viennese Christmas Bread Recipe, also called Viennese Striezel, is an impressive three layer sweet bread studded with candied cherries and dried cranberries. Flavored with Cardamom and orange, I've used whole wheat flour rather than the traditional white flour to give it a nutty, country flavor.

Viennese Christmas Bread recipe makes a beautiful, fruit filled sweet yeast bread with a vanilla orange flavor. From Restless Chipotle.com

I have always loved working with whole wheat flours and I often take traditional white flour recipes and convert them.

Whole wheat flour not only adds that chewy texture and nutty flavor but it adds fiber, protein, and vitamins too. Most people run into the problem of heavy texture which usually means the flour hasn't been kneaded enough.

If you are kneading by machine it is going to take a good ten minutes and if you are kneading by hand it's going to be more like 20 minutes of kneading. I'd also suggest that you use a little gluten flour along with the whole wheat flour -- it will help the bread rise high and light and make the kneading process easier.

Viennese Christmas bread recipe makes amazing French toast. From RestlessChipotle.com — Ingredients for the bread -- I forgot the egg and the rum in the picture.

Many of my memories of Christmas as a kid have to do with smells as much, or even maybe more, than sights or sounds. I can remember walking into our house after school in the dim winter light, my legs bright red from the cold (you wore dresses or skirts to school bach then no matter what) and feeling the blast of warm air scented with fruitcake or Christmas cookies.

It was the only time of the year my mom baked and she usually baked fruitcakes for all of her siblings, our neighbors, the milkman, the postman, and people I can't even think of right now. It was a generous time back then -- something I think we've lost for the most part. Maybe it's time to get it back?

When I bake during the Holiday season I feel connected with all of those memories. It makes my house smell wonderful so when MY kids come in from school I know that they are making Christmas memories similar to mine so long ago, and it's likely that they'll make these same memories for their kids. It's how the generations connect -- memories and recipes.

Viennese Christmas Bread recipe takes time but it is so worth it! This whole wheat dough is light and airy. From RestlessChipotle.com

So, this Viennese Christmas bread recipe --- perfect for giving! Perfect for making memories!

European countries are known for their yeast breads and the sweet yeast breads that they create during the holidays are gorgeous.

At least I think they are from the recipes I've tried and the images I have seen -- I haven't traveled to Europe yet, although it's on my bucket list. Anyway, I think Austria has more of the Christmas bread recipes than some of the other countries -- at least I've seen more.

Viennese Christmas bread recipe is made with whole wheat flour and candied cherries. From RestlessChipotle.com

This Viennese Striezel is a braided Christmas loaf that really isn't difficult to make. The dough is flavored with cardamom, orange, and just a hint of vanilla to give it a little extra sweetness.

As I said, I've replaced the traditional white flour with whole wheat flour. I also used dried cranberries soaked in rum in place of the raisins in the original recipe which is in one of my go to vintage cookbooks, Farm Journal's Homemade Bread, circa 1969.

Believe it or not, I bought it at a used book store in 1975! It's falling apart, stained, and has half the cover gone but I still use it at least a couple of times a month.

You'll want to do this Christmas bread recipe on a day when you are going to be home all day because of the rising time (4 hours). Letting it rise overnight in the refrigerator is also an option.

Viennese Christmas bread recipe makes one loaf of sweet yeast bread filled with candied cherries. From RestlessChipotle.com

How to Make a Braided Loaf

Braiding the bread makes for a pretty loaf and it's easy to do. You'll just need to divide the dough into nine pieces after the rising.

Roll each into a strand about 15-inches long. Start with four strands and braid them loosely -- it's easiest if you start at the center and braid to each end.
With the side of your hand make a dent down the middle of the braid. This helps the next braid to stay put.
Take the next three strands and braid them loosely, starting at the middle and braiding to the ends.
Carefully place it on top of the first braid and press gently. Now, make another dent down the middle of the second braid.
Take the remaining two strands of dough and twist them loosely around each other.
Place on top of the second braid and press gently.
Bring the ends of the last twist down over the ends of the loaf and tuck underneath.

That's it! Super simple right? Here are step by step images for braiding the Viennese Christmas Bread recipe --

Viennese Christmas Bread recipe is made of three braided loaves stacked on top of each other - from RestlessChipotle.com — *Using a scale is the easiest way to divide up the dough evenly. Roll each ball of dough into a rope.*

The first braid of the Viennese Christmas bread recipe is made of 4 ropes. From restlesschipotle.com — *Begin braiding 4 strands from the middle to each end. Then create a dent down the middle with your hand.*

Viennese Christmas bread recipe is easier than you might think and makes a great holiday gift. From restlesschipotle.com — The second braid of the Christmas bread recipe is made of three ropes. Again, braid from the center to each end then lay it on top of the first braid, right in the dent. Press gently and then dent the top.

The Viennese Christmas bread recipe is a sweet yeast dough filled with candied cherries and cranberries. From RestlessChipotle.com — *The top braid is actually just two ropes twisted loosely together. Lay them in the dent of the second braid. Don't dent the top. Now it's ready for the second rise.*

You are seriously going to love this Christmas bread recipe. It is a great gift, it freezes well, and it makes amazing French toast if you get tired of eating it with just butter. I like to give this in a basket along with a jar of orange marmalade and a tin of Vanilla Earl Grey tea.

Mexican Day of the Dead Bread is another wonderful loaf with orange and anise flavors. I love it for French toast.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them. She's been around the culinary block more than once, turning simple ingredients into mouthwatering masterpieces. With a sprinkle of humor and a dash of wit, she makes cooking feel like a piece of cake (which she can also teach you to bake perfectly). When she's not conjuring up delicious dishes, you might find her sharing laughs with her family, reading by the fire, or scribbling down her next big recipe idea. Marye believes that a good meal and a hearty laugh are the best parts of life. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

Viennese Christmas Bread Recipe

How to Make a Braided Loaf

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