Vegan Houska (Czech Braided Bread)

Elevate your baking skills with this show-stopping Vegan Houska, a plant-based twist on traditional Czech braided bread. This golden, beautifully braided loaf is lightly sweetened and infused with the bright zest of lemon and a hint of vanilla, making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Raisins and slivered almonds are kneaded into the dough for bursts of flavor and texture, while a glossy vegan milk wash gives it a bakery-worthy finish. Using simple ingredients like almond milk and vegan butter, this recipe is both beginner-friendly and dairy-free, yet it retains the rich, tender crumb characteristic of classic houska. Serve it warm with your favorite spreads, or enjoy it plain to let its subtly sweet and citrusy notes shine. Vegan baking has never been this delightful—or this delicious!

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:120 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:155 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 500 grams all-purpose flour
• 7 grams instant yeast
• 50 grams granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 250 milliliters almond milk
• 60 grams vegan butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 100 grams raisins
• 50 grams slivered almonds
• 2 tablespoons vegan milk (for brushing)

Directions

Step 1

In a small saucepan, warm the almond milk slightly until it's lukewarm. Remove from heat and add the vegan butter, letting it melt completely.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.

Step 3

Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the warm almond milk mixture. Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract.

Step 4

Mix the ingredients until a sticky dough forms, then knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.

Step 5

Flatten the dough slightly and sprinkle the raisins and slivered almonds on top, folding the dough to incorporate them evenly.

Step 6

Place the dough back into the bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 7

Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal parts.

Step 8

Roll each part into a long rope, approximately 40 cm each. Pinch the ends together and braid the ropes, tucking the ends underneath.

Step 9

Transfer the braided dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover again, and let it rise for another 30 minutes.

Step 10

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Before baking, brush the braided loaf gently with vegan milk for a glossy finish.

Step 11

Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Step 12

Remove from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1071.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3170.7

Total Fat 79.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 32.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2939.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 546.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 26.5g	0%
Total Sugars 137.3g
Protein 69.6g	0%

Vitamin D 95.0IU	0%
Calcium 701.2mg	0%
Iron 28.1mg	0%
Potassium 1859.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 22.5%

Protein: 8.8%

Carbs: 68.8%