This recipe for Bulgarian Christmas bread or koledna pitka requires only one rise. It is typically eaten on Christmas Eve and throughout the holidays. Often, a silver coin is tucked inside and the one to find it should expect good luck in the coming year. There are many ways to shape this bread, but I think this sunflower look is most festive. My recipe contains eggs, which some Orthodox Christians do not eat during Advent, so be forewarned before you start the recipe.
Here is a larger photo of Bulgarian Christmas Bread or koledna pitka.
Here is a larger photo of Bulgarian Christmas Bread or koledna pitka.
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rising time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Yield: 1 Bulgarian Christmas Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2.2 pounds all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons oil or softened butter
- 4 large eggs (reserving 1 egg yolk to brush on bread)
- 1 tablespoon salt
Preparation:
- In small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Stir in sugar and 2 tablespoons flour until well combined. Transfer to a stand mixer bowl, and add remaining flour, oil or butter, 3 whole eggs and 1 egg white (reserving remaining egg yolk to brush on the bread before baking), and salt. Knead until smooth and pliable. If dough is too dry, add 1 tablespoon warm water at a time until desired consistency is met. Likewise, if dough is too wet, add 1 tablespoon flour at a time until deisred consistency is met.
- Divide dough into 7 equal-size balls. Place 1 ball in the center of a greased 12-inch baking tray like a pizza pan without a lip. Cover with greased plastic wrap while you roll each of the other balls into 10-inch circles and, using a pizza cutter, cut into 8 triangular pieces.
- Lightly brush the top of each triangular piece with oil or melted butter. Stack three pieces on top of each other. Twist to form a cone. Repeat with remaining dough. You will have 16 "cones." Arrange these around the center ball of dough with the wide side of the cone facing out. Cover and let rise until almost doubled. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Slash an "X" in middle ball of risen dough. Brush bread all over with remaining beaten egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon water. Bake about 15 minutes and cover top loosely with foil to prevent overbrowning. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until instant-read thermometer registers 190 degrees when inserted in the thickest part of the dough. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Pull off "cones" for individual servings.
