Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins. Pandolce is a soft, fragrant bread, just mildly sweet and freckled with raisins. It is great for breakfast, tasted or slathered in jam, and always present on our Easter breakfast table.
Song of the day: "home" - morgxn ft. WALK THE MOON
Easter is approaching fast and I am starting to think of recipes that are usually traditional for Easter in Italy. My mom's handwritten recipe books are a treasure of recipes: could you beleive that for many of them, my mom does not even remember where they come from?
Pandolce: Pan(e)=Bread Dolce= Sweet
Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins, is something you would easily find on an Easter Sunday breakfast table in many Italian families. Simple, beautifully rustic, mildly sweet, it is the perfect accompaniment to tea or coffee and other sweet and savory delights.
This Pandolce triggers memories of country days long gone, where the smell of freshly baked bread and sweets permeated the alleys. All the while kids played loudly, and women in aprons, strong hands, and big smiles chitchatted while working away in their kitchens.
Yeast dough
Although simple to make, Pandolce is not a fast baking project, because, as a yeast bread, you have to give the dough time to rise. Twice.
Whenever I can, I prefer to use fresh yeast, otherwise called baker's yeast, or compressed yeast, but you can also use dry yeast. Fresh yeast has no artificial additives; it should be kept in the fridge and it lasts for up to 4 weeks.
- For active dry yeast, you generally need to use half the quantity of fresh yeast. Active dry yeast must be hydrated in warm water/milk before being incorporated into a dough.
- For instant dry yeast, you need to use ¼ of the quantity of fresh yeast. Instant yeast can be incorporated into the dough without first rehydrating it; however, it is sensitive to cold temperatures.
To me, kneading is therapeutic. If kneading by hand, lightly flour a work surface and knead the dough for about 10 minutes. While kneading, at the first stages, the dough will be quite sticky. Try to avoid adding extra flour. It will become less sticky the more you knead it. A bench (pastry) scraper can be helpful. In the end, the dough has to feel smooth and elastic.
Of course, if you use a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, it will take less time and the hook will do all the work for you.
Braided bread
Following the instructions on my mom's book, I have made a braid with the dough. You could make more complex weaves, or close the braid to form a wreath. In order to do the braid, I cut the dough ball into three parts, which I consequently rolled into 3 ropes, each about 40 cm long, then I braided them to form this bread.
I hope you are among the raisins lovers, like me. Here, raisins give a delightful sweet note that makes the bread perfect for pairing with butter and jams.
Bring it to the table for an energetic breakfast, to start the day off right, or even as a snack, when the sweet craving hits. However, Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins is also excellent on a cheese platter, accompanied by seasoned cheeses and honey.
It lasts for a few days, and when it starts to lose its softness, it is outstanding toasted, or to make incredibly delicious French toast.
This Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins, is a traditional treat people in Italy would eat during the Easter holidays. Not only Easter Sunday, but also Pasquetta, Easter Monday, when Italians would pack it for a picnic outdoors.
Make it for your family, or if you're hosting an Easter brunch. It looks impressive on the table and it tastes absolutely exquisite! The aroma for us Italian says Easter, and the rumble in our stomachs means we can't wait to cut a piece and slather it with butter or jam! Once you have experienced this Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins, there will never be an Easter without it!
Enjoy!
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Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 sweet braided bread 1x
Description
Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins. Pandolce is a soft, fragrant bread, just mildly sweet and freckled with raisins. Great for breakfast, tasted or slathered in jam, it is always present on our Easter breakfast table.
Ingredients
- 500 g flour 0, 00, or all-purpose
- 25 g fresh baker's yeast (12.5 g active dry yeast; 6 g instant yeast)
- 100 g sugar (granulated or cane sugar)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- the grated zest of 1 organic lemon
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 egg, organic free range
- 80 g melted butter
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 125 g raisins
- 1 egg, lightly beaten, to brush on top
Instructions
- Sift the flour in a large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Add the yeast in, mix, and make a well in the center.
- Add the sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, salt, egg, the lukewarm melted butter. Mix, incorporating the flour on the sides.
- Slowly start pouring the milk, and mix to incorporate all the flour.
- Once a 'raggedy' dough starts to form, pour it onto a lightly floured work surface and knead the dough for 10 minutes (or finish kneading it in the stand mixer, about 5-6 minutes).
- Put the dough back in the floured bowl, cover with a wet towel and let rise for 1 hour away from air draughts (I cover it with a towel and put it in the oven, turned off with the light on).
- Put the raisins in a small bowl, add water just enough to cover them, let sit for 5-10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- After the 60 minutes rising time, punch down the dough, add the raisins and knead it again to incorporate.
- Form a ball with the dough, then divide into 3 parts, more or less the same size (I used a scale).
- With your hands, roll each dough ball into a rope, about 40 cm long. Put the 3 ropes in front of you and starting from the top, start to braid the ropes, sealing the ends together.
- Transfer the braid to a rectangular baking pan lined with parchment paper and set back to rise, covered, away from air draughts, for about 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, preheat the oven to 400° F (200° C).
- After the 30 minutes, brush the lightly beaten egg on top of the bread.
- Place on the lower rack of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, covering the top of the bread with foil paper if you see it is getting too dark (I covered it at about half the cooking time).
- Take out of the oven and let cool on a rack.
Notes
It lasts for 3-4 days but it slowly gets tougher. Toast it, or make French toast. Amazing!
- Prep Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: sultanas, fresh yeast, egg, lemon zest, flour, sugar, Easter, traditional, bread, dessert, breakfast
This looks like it came straight from the bakery. Well done!! Very perfect for Easter 🙂
Thank you! It is traditional for Easter or Christmas in Italy, but appreciated all year round.
I love a good homemade bread like this. And how lucky you are to have your mom’s precious handwritten recipe books.
★★★★★
Thank you! It is a great sweet bread and if you like raisins they give such a nice touch! I still have so many recipes to make from those books 🙂 .
OMG this brings back childhood memories of baba making bread for Easter. We celebrated Ukrainian Easter, and would take a basket of food to church to get "blessed" on Saturday. Then we would eat the food Easter Sunday for breakfast. She ALWAYS had bread made for us.
★★★★★
Thank you Gloria! So nice that this bread brought back such a happy memory! It is a great bread, not too sweet, but sweet enough to also call it dessert 😉 .
this sounds just incredible. I'm not much of a baker, but i love bread. you've made this sound so easy!
★★★★★
Thanks! It's not the easiest baked good, but it's totally doable. And it's so good, that I hope you give it a try!
I love Pandolce! It was always on our table around Easter time when I was in Italy. I never attempted making it but this recipe looks so gorgeous I might give it a try! 🙂
★★★★★
So happy you know this bread and love it! It is very popular and so delicious. Hope you try it! 🙂
This bread is so beautiful I love the dark golden color. And I bet this would make amazing french toast or bread pudding!
★★★★★
Thank you! You need to brush the top with egg and that gives that beautiful color. It is amazing as is, with jam, and as french toast
Walking into a kitchen teeming with the yeasty smell of warm bread like this is like receiving a warm hug from a dear friend
★★★★★
Thank you! So well put!
Ooh your bread is beautiful!! I love homemade bread especially loaves like this one with the dried fruit. Always a delicious treat for the morning!
★★★★★
Thank you! Nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread :-). In the morning it is delicious!!
My biggest criticism of this decadent pandolce is that I am afraid that I could devour the entire loaf, single handly. I love the lemon zest you have added, for the understated bight and flavorful contrast to the other sweet and savory ingredients. Beautifully done and thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Thank you! Such a beautiful comment! Yes, the lemon is a nice touch that compliments well the sweet raisins.
This bread looks AMAZING! I would love to have this for breakfast with some cream cheese!
★★★★★
Thank you! Never thought of spreading cream cheese on top, but it sounds amazing!
Many years ago when I was working at a rather frustrating job (before I became a chef), I started to bake bread - I found it to be so therapeutic. Now I bake bread for the people that I love because it is so comforting and so very enjoyable. Your beautiful Pandolce, Sweet Braided Bread with Raisins will be that kind of bread, I am sure. Already, after reading your lovely post and recipe from your Mom’s precious recipe book, this bread is something that I want to bake to evoke the same cozy feelings as you so beautifully wrote about. Many thanks for sharing, Nicoletta. ❤️
★★★★★
Well said, Denise! Baking bread is so comforting and brings so much satisfaction when you see people enjoying it. Thank you so much for your lovely comments!
I absolutely love sweet breads like this. It brings back so many childhood memories of baking breads with my Mom. I still make homemade breads like this for the family and extended family. I l9ve your addition of lemon and raisin to this as it’s light and bright while letting the flavors of the bread shine through!
Thank you! The lemon zest and raisins add such a beautiful fragrance.
These pandolce is beautifully done ! and that crust on top? To die for. This bread brings back so many fond memories of mine, Thank you for sharing ~! 🙂
★★★★★
Thank you! Love the top too! It is a great bread and makes Easter sweeter 🙂
There's nothing better than a great homemade loaf of bread. This looks so unique and delicious, making this soon.
★★★★★
Thank you! I agree, nothing like making fresh bread 🙂 .
Yummy! Remind me of challah :). Love a freshly baked bread. And it makes the house smell so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing :).
This is such a lovely braided bread and raisins are my favorite topping for any braided breads! Beautifully baked and the crust on top is to die for
★★★★★