Hefekranz
The plait (also: Bread ring ) is a specially shaped cake made of yeast dough. In Bavaria and Austria it is sometimes referred to as Striezel. In contrast to the Swiss Zopf he's cute.
Preparation
A sweetened, mostly fat dough is divided into three or more parts, which are rolled into strands. From the dough strands a braid is woven, which can be joined to form a ring.
The art of making lies next to the actual preparation in the elaborate interlace that arise when lichens with more than three strands. Before baking, the braid is coated with milk, so a good tanning results. It can be sprinkled with sliced almonds. After cooling, the plait is cut into slices that can be brushed with butter before serving.
Often, the plait is refined with raisins, chocolate or spices or filled with various fillings such as nuts or poppy seeds.
Hefekränze are often baked on special occasions like Easter, New Year, or to be baptized, and can also serve as a table decoration. On these occasions the braids (for example, pretzel, star, nests or baskets ) placed before baking to structures and filled according to circumstances after baking the occasion with colored eggs, fruit or other decorative, mostly edible objects.