Email the ingredients

Please enter a valid email address
Terms of Use. We will send you an email containing the ingredients list and method for this recipe as well as a link to access it on Tesco Real Food. This service involves no registration or subscription.
You should receive an email shortly.
Add this recipe to your binder

Please log in to add this recipe

This recipe is in your binder

Go to binder
Share this recipe

Andrew MacKenzie's festive plaited loaf recipe

2 ratings

This beautiful festive loaf by Andrew MacKenzie will be sure to impress kids and grown-ups alike. Kids can get involved throughout this recipe, from dusting flour to plaiting the loaf! A food processor with a dough hook attachment will make this recipe easier. See method

Serves 16
30mins to prepare and 30mins to cook, plus proving time
240 calories / serving
Vegetarian

Ingredients

700g (1 1/2lb) strong bread flour
200g (7oz) rye flour
12g (1/2oz) dried yeast
20g salt
1tsp ground ginger
1/2tsp ground cloves
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
100g raisins
100g sultanas

Each serving contains

Energy
1015kj
240kcal 12%
Fat
1g 1%
Saturates
0g 1%
Sugars
9g 10%
Salt
1.3g 22%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 48g Protein 6.6g Fibre 4.1g

Method

Weigh out the flours and spices and add to a large mixing bowl.
Pour in 540ml (17fl oz) water and the yeast and combine with your hands until a dough forms – feel free to use a food mixer with a dough hook attachment instead if you wish.
Flour a work surface and remove the dough from the bowl. Knead for around 20 minutes until the dough is velvety and smooth.

We value your privacy

We use cookies to help give you the best experience on our site. By playing this video, you're consenting to receive third party privacy-enhanced cookies.
Sprinkle the salt into the dough and combine it throughout the dough by kneading for a further 5 minutes. Return to the bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place to prove, until the dough has doubled in size. Kids will be astonished to see how the dough has grown, as if by magic!

We value your privacy

We use cookies to help give you the best experience on our site. By playing this video, you're consenting to receive third party privacy-enhanced cookies.
Remove the dough from the bowl and flatten slightly. Get the kids to scatter the dried fruit over the dough and gently knead for a further 2 minutes, until the fruit is distributed throughout.
Split into 3 even-sized portions and roll out into long 3cm thick sausage shapes of equal length. Join the pieces of dough together at one end and start to plait evenly – once you’ve got it going, let the kids take over! When the whole loaf is plaited, bring the ends of the plait towards each other to form a circle and neatly pinch and push the ends together.
Heavily dust a baking tray with flour and carefully slide the loaf onto the tray. Cover with a damp, warm cloth and leave in a warm place to double in size again.
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 9, 250°C or as high as possible.
Place the loaf into the oven for 10 minutes, then turn down to Gas Mark 4, 180°C, fan 160°C and cook for a further 20 minutes.
To check the loaf is cooked, tap the bottom. If it sounds hollow, it is ready. Remove from the oven, allow to cool on a wire rack, slice and serve.