Zatiki Chorek - Armenian Easter Bread
The traditional Armenian chorek is rich and scrumptious. Its sweet and enticing aroma lingering in the kitchen for days. It's truly heavenly.
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Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Yeast Active Dry Yeast (not instant/rapid rise)
- 300 gram Butter melted
- 6 eggs roughly 300 gram
- 1.5 cups sugar Plus 1 tablespoon for starter
- 1.5 cups milk Plus ¼ cup milk for starter
- 900 gram Flour
- 1 teaspoon Mahleb
- 1 egg for eggwash
- sesame seeds
- poppy seeds
- nigella seeds
Instructions
Starter
- Mix 1 teaspoon of yeast with 1/4 cup of lukewarm milk. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and flour to make a creamy consistency. Cover and let rise for 15-30 minutes.1 teaspoon Yeast
Dough
- Start mixing the melted butter with one cup of flour in a standing mixer with paddle attachment.300 gram Butter
- Then add the eggs and sugar and beat well.6 eggs , 1.5 cups sugar
- Add the milk followed by the starter.1.5 cups milk
- Sprinkle the ground Mahleb.1 teaspoon Mahleb
- Replace the mixer with the dough hook.
- Gradually add the flour. After adding 8 cups, scrape the mixing bowl from the bottom and continue kneading (8-10 minutes).900 gram Flour
- The dough should feel smooth and elastic but not sticky. If it feels sticky add more flour until it no longer sticks.
- Once the dough is kneaded and glossy, place an a bowl that has room to rise, cover and place in a warm place.
- Let it rise for 2-hours. It should double in volume. The ideal temperature is 75°F (24°C).
- Punch the dough down and make a couple of folds by bringing the dough from the bottom across diagonally over. Repeat for all sides. Cover and let it rise a second time.
- Once the dough rises the second time, divide it into portions.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F, while you shape and make the breads.
- Make the braids, rolls, any shapes you want.
- Beat the whole egg with a little bit of water and brush it on the ready breads.1 egg
- Let them rise for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with the seeds and bake for 20-40 minutes.sesame seeds, poppy seeds, nigella seeds
- The smaller breads will bake quicker. The thicker braids will require 40 minutes.
Notes
Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
