Armenian Easter Bread (Choreg)
User Reviews
4.8
Armenian Easter Bread (Choreg)
Description
Armenian Easter Bread, known as Choreg, is a sweet bread that blends four cups of flour with generous amounts of butter and milk, creating a soft dough enriched with eggs and sugar. This recipe incorporates mahleb—a spice that adds a distinctive floral and nutty aroma—along with fresh yeast dissolved in hot water with sugar and flour to activate fermentation. The melted butter and warm milk are beaten with eggs and the yeast mixture, then combined with dry ingredients for kneading.
The slow yeast activation and the combination of baking powder and mahleb contribute to a bread that rises well and offers moist, tender slices. Decorating with sesame seeds adds texture and a nutty finish on top. This bread is customary for Armenian Easter celebrations and is suitable for serving with butter, jams, or alongside main dishes.
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 6 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/5 cups sugar
- 4 tbsp fresh yeast
- 3-4 teaspoons mahleb
- 1 pinch salt
- 4 tbsp water hot
- sesame seeds as needed for decoration
Instructions
- Dissolve the yeast in hot water along with some sugar and flour. Wait for about 10 minutes to allow the yeast to activate. Because of the addition of sugar the mixture should get frothy and release carbon dioxide. Make sure your bowl isn't too small or it may overflow.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter and warm up the milk to a simmer in separate saucepans.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the remaining 1 cup sugar and vanilla extract. Then slowly add the hot milk, beating constantly, followed by the melted butter until well combined. Then beat in the yeast mixture. The liquid mixture should be fairly warm.
- In another large bowl, combine the flour, mahleb, baking powder, and salt. Create a well in the center of the dry mixture and pour in the liquid mixture
- Use a large spoon to gently mix the dry mixture into the liquid, starting from the center and moving outward until all the dry mixture is moistened. Start using your hands to finish mixing and knead the dough.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 10-15 minutes.
- Cover with foil and a towel and let it rise for about 2 hours. Knead again once it has doubled in size, for at least 5 minutes and let it rise for one more hour.
- Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and divide each of those into three equal parts.
- Roll the three parts of each to form a thick stick and braid them.
- Brush the top surface with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Preheat the oven to 356°F and bake for about 10 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 320°F and bake for another 20 minutes.
Notes
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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