Czech Christmas Bread (Vanocka)

By
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Updated on 11/26/21
Czech Christmas bread recipe

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 60 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Total: 2 hrs
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
476 Calories
8g Fat
88g Carbs
13g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 476
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 188mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 88g 32%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 76mg 6%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 266mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe for Czech Christmas bread or vanocka (vah-NAWTCH-kah) is similar to Polish chałka, Jewish challah, Hungarian fonott kalacs, and other Eastern European egg-twist breads. Traditionally, this loaf is made of three braids of decreasing size placed one on top of the other, but a simple three-strand braid will work just fine.

The vanocka dough is the same one used for Easter—bochanek velikonocni—just round with a cross cut into it.

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Ingredients

For the Bread:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter

  • 1 cup sugar, or less to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 cup milk, scalded

  • 4 1/2 teaspoons (2 packages) dry yeast

  • 1/4 cup warm water

  • 2 large eggs, room temperature and beaten

  • 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup raisins, golden or dark

  • 1/2 cup almonds, blanched and sliced

  • 1/3 cup candied citron, chopped

For the Topping:

  • 1 large egg , room temperature and beaten

  • 2 tablespoons almonds, blanched and sliced

  • Confectioners' sugar, for dusting, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Czech christmas bread
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Add butter, sugar, and salt to scalded milk. Stir to combine and let cool to lukewarm.

    Butter in bowl
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Place yeast and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer and, with paddle attachment, stir until dissolved. Add lukewarm milk mixture and eggs and combine.

    Place yeast and warm water in bowl
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add 3 cups of the flour and beat with paddle until smooth. Add raisins, almonds, citron, and remaining flour and mix, 3 to 5 minutes until smooth. Dough will be sticky.

    Add raisins
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Place dough in greased bowl. Turn over and cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. See this quick tip for faster rising.

    Cover with saran wrap
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured board.

    Roll out
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Divide dough into 3 large pieces and 5 smaller ones.

    Divide dough
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Roll each piece into a rope, about 14 inches long.

    Roll into strips
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  9. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, braid 3 larger pieces loosely and pinch ends together.

    Braid
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  10. Braid 3 of the smaller rolls, pinch ends together, and place on top of the large braid.

    Braid rolls
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  11. Twist last 2 rolls together and place on top of second braid, tucking ends under large braid.

    Twist rolls
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  12. Cover with a cloth or greased plastic wrap and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm place.

    Cover with cloth
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  13. Preheat oven to 400 F. Brush loaf with egg and sprinkle with almonds. Bake 15 minutes, reduce heat to 375 F and bake 30 to 45 minutes or until instant-read temperature registers 190 F.

    Brush
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  14. Let cool completely before slicing. Dust with confectioners' sugar before cutting, if desired.

    Let cool
    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Variations

  • If you want to try and add dried apricots and raisins, make sure to soak them overnight in brandy or rum.
  • You can also include additions of citron and anise seed.