Zopf (Swiss Sunday Plait)
A soft, buttery braided loaf with a shiny golden crust, traditionally baked for Sunday breakfast in Switzerland.
- Time3 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.44 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 361kcal
- 50gcarbs
- 4.3gof which sugars
- 13.5gfat
- 7gsaturates
- 9.9gprotein
- 1.9gfibre
- 0.9gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a large bowl. Rub in the butter until it disappears.
- 2
Add the warm milk and the first egg yolk and mix to a soft dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes, until smooth and springy.
10 min - 3
Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and leave somewhere warm for 1 hour 15 minutes, until doubled.
75 min - 4
Tip out and divide into two pieces, one a little larger. Roll the larger into a thick rope of 40cm, taper both ends. Repeat to make two ropes of the same length.
- 5
Lay the ropes in a cross. Plait them by taking each end over the neighbouring one, working to the end. Turn and plait the other side, then tuck the ends under. Lift onto a lined baking tray.
- 6
Cover and prove for 40 minutes, until puffy. Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Beat the glaze yolk with the milk and brush all over.
40 min - 7
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until deep golden and hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a rack before slicing.
35 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
