Zopf
Zopf is the Swiss braided Sunday bread, a symbol of hospitality and family meals, traditionally baked every Sunday morning in many households across German-speaking Switzerland. The name, which literally means "braid" or "plait", describes exactly how the dough is formed from three long strands, tightly woven together before baking. The braid holds deep symbolic meaning in Swiss tradition, some of it tied to ancient Germanic funerary customs in which braided bread was placed in graves, though the precise connection remains debated among food historians. Today, zopf is a fixture of the Sunday breakfast in many Swiss families, often served with butter and jam, and the unofficial competition for the most beautiful, even braid is a source of quiet pride among home bakers.
Buttery dough
A rich dough made with butter and milk
Braid
Three strands plaited in a traditional weave
Glossy crust
Brushed with egg for a shiny finish
Sunday tradition
The traditional Sunday breakfast or dinner bread
Ingredients 4 servings
- 500 g flour
- 20 g fresh yeast
- 250 ml warm milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 80 g soft butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk for brushing
- 1 tbsp milk for the glaze
How to make it
- 1Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with the sugar and let it foam for 10 minutes.
- 2Mix the flour with the salt in a large bowl, make a well and add the dissolved yeast, the whole egg and the soft butter.
- 3Knead the dough for 10-12 minutes, until smooth, elastic and slightly glossy, then cover and let rise in a warm place for an hour and a half, until doubled in size.
- 4Turn out the dough and divide it into three equal pieces, rolling each into a long, even strand.
- 5Plait the three strands tightly together, like a traditional braid, sealing the ends well at both extremities.
- 6Place the braid on a lined tray and let it rise again for 45 minutes, covered with a damp towel.
- 7Mix the egg yolk with the milk and generously brush the surface of the bread, reaching into all the crevices of the braid.
- 8Bake at 200°C for 30-35 minutes, until deep golden-brown, then let it cool on a rack before slicing.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
