Nusszopf

German Sweet Bread with Hazelnut Filling – Nusszopf

The “Nusszopf” or German sweet bread with a hazelnut filling is a classic German cake or pastry. It is made out of a yeast dough and filled with almonds or hazelnuts, and it is braided. This is an authentic and proven German recipe. To make this German sweet bread you need to have some baking experience. It’s a great addition for the Sunday brunch or for the traditional coffee and cake table Sunday afternoons. Happy Baking!

Ingredients German Hazelnut Zopf

500g flour
30g yeast (fresh) or 1 package dry yeast
1/4l lukewarm milk
80g butter
50g sugar
1 dash salt
zest of ½ organic lemon

Filling
200g marzipan, raw
2 egg white
2 tbsp sugar
150g ground almonds or hazelnuts (or half/half)
2 cl rum
4 tbsp powdered sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp water

Baking Instructions German Hazelnut Zopf

– Sieve flour in a bowl, form a mold in the middle, add or crumble yeast and mix with some milk and some flour.
– Let this starter or “pre-dough” raise for 15 minutes (covered with a clean kitchen cloth).
– Melt butter and mix it with sugar, salt, lemon peel, entire flour and starter dough.

Make the Filling
– Mix marzipan with egg whites, sugar, almonds and rum.
– Roll dough to dimensions 50×40 cm or 20 inches x 16 inches and spread filling on top.
– Roll it lengthwise and cut in half, then turn it into a braided bread (Zopf).

– Place it on a baking tray layered with parchment paper, and let it raise for 15 minutes.
– Pre-heat oven to 200 C or 350 F and bake it for 35 minutes on the lowest level.

Make the Glaze
Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice and water. Spread it over the hot braided bread.