Description
These charming bird-shaped bread rolls are a delightful addition to your spring breakfast table, celebrating the arrival of the season with a touch of whimsy.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 tsp (5 g) dry yeast
- 4 tbsp (60 ml) sugar
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp (270 ml) lukewarm water
- 3 cups (720 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla sugar
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil, plus more for greasing
- 1 egg, for brushing
- Few dry fruits or nuts, for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Make the dough: Mix the dry yeast, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 cup lukewarm water in a small mixing bowl and set aside for 10 minutes, or until froth forms on top. This procedure is called proofing the yeast, or making sure it’s alive and your dough will rise as expected. In a large bowl mix the rest of sugar, sieved flour, salt and vanilla sugar and transfer the proofed yeast into the mixture of the dry ingredients. Add vegetable oil and mix the dough with your hands until it starts coming together. Each flour behaves differently and in case with mine I felt like I needed to add 2 more tbsp water to arrive to the perfect dough. Lift the dough, sprinkle the bowl with some more flour and start kneading. Give it good kneading for about 5-7 minutes until a perfect soft ball of dough forms. Grease with mixing bowl with the vegetable oil and place the dough inside. Cover with the film stretch and leave to rise for about 2 hours in a warm place (try the top of your fridge), or until the dough doubles in size.
- Shape the birds: Divide the dough in equal parts of a baseball ball size and roll each into a little ball. Line the dough balls on the flour-sprinkled surface and cover with a kitchen towel. Take one and roll with your hands into a sausage about 15 cm / 6 inch long: roll from the middle towards the edges. Now tie the dough sausage into a knot. Lift one free end of the knot. Form it into the birds’ head with a beak: there is no science about it, give it a character. The other free end of the knot will be the birds’ tale: with a sharp knife make a few small cuts to create tale feathers. Put the ready bird on a baking tray greased with vegetable oil. When you are done with shaping the birds it’s time to make their eyes with dry black currents or chopped black raisins: make sure to press them rather hard into the dough so they don’t fall off during the baking. Put the tray into a warm place for about 30 minutes so the bird shaped bread rolls can start rising. Then brush them with egg for shiny look of the finished product. Preheat the oven to 180C/355F and bake for for 20-25 min. Cool completely before serving.
Notes
- These rolls are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat them in the oven for a few minutes to restore their freshness.
- Feel free to get creative with the decorations, using seeds or nuts for eyes and feathers.
- This recipe is a fun way to involve kids in baking, as they can help shape the birds.
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 10