Name: Raspberry and Pistachio Wreath Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 cup (110g) fresh or frozen raspberries; 3 tbsp (40g) cane sugar (or liquid sweetener to taste); 2 tbsp (14g) corn flour or corn starch; Dash of water; Squeeze of lemon juice (to taste (optional)); 3 cups (375g) plain or all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting); 3/4 cup (165mL) plant-based milk, such as almond, soy or coconut (warm); 1/2 cup (112g) vegan butter (room temperature); 3 tbsp (40g) cane sugar (or coconut sugar); 1 tablespoon (10g) instant dried yeast**; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; Pinch of any good-quality salt (if not using salted butter); 1/2 cup roughly chopped chocolate; 1/4 cup raisins; 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 cup (50g) cane sugar; 2 tbsp (30mL) water; 1/4 cup pistachios

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Raspberry and pistachio wreath recipe perfect for Christmas and gifting to loved ones! Easy to make, impressive and delicious.

Raspberry and Pistachio Wreath on baking paper and marble serving board

This festive wreath recipe is an adaptation of all the babka and cinnamon roll recipes on my blog including:

I've seen over 50 successful remakes of all those babka and roll recipes. That means this festive wreath recipe is *very* tried and tested! You're in good hands here!

This wreath recipe uses the same ratios and ingredients but just slightly different fillings and spices.

Preparing the dough for the raspberry wreath

Making the dough for the wreath is super easy. Simply add all the dough ingredients to a stand mixer and knead until it's soft and stretchy.

If you don't have a stand mixer, you can use a large mixing bowl. Simply mix all the ingredients in the bowl then knead it on a clean floured surface.

Wreath recipe filled with raspberry jam and topped with crushed pistachios

To avoid repetition, you can see step by step pictures of the initial dough in my jam donut babka recipe post.

The dough should be soft and have no large cracks but shouldn't stick to the side of the bowl.

When you rest the dough for the first time, the most important thing is to keep it in a WARM spot in your home.

This is an 'enriched dough' and unlike pizza dough the butter inhibits the rising. The dough needs to be kept in a warm spot so the butter is soft enough for the flour and yeast to do its magic.

Preparing the jam for this wreath recipe

I made a quick jam out of raspberries, sugar and cornflour for this wreath. I added all ingredients to a saucepan then simmered it until it was very sticky and thick.

If you use store-bought jam just as Bonne Maman's raspberry conserve, you will need to reduce it on the stovetop beforehand as it's too liquidy. The jam needs to be a consistency where it won't ooze out when you roll the dough!

Shaping the wreath

Process pictures showing how to prepare the dough for the wreath recipe. Includes rolling the dough with a rolling pin, spreading the jam and rolling the dough into a log.

If you've made cinnamon rolls or babka before, it's easy to master this wreath recipe.

Simply roll out the dough in a large rectangle on a floured surface. Mine was about 45 x 25 cm (18 x 10 inches) large.

Next I spread the jam on the dough. My jam was very thick and sticky so I was able to spread it very close to the edge.

Once you've done that, roll your dough starting from the long side. You will need two hands to do this.

Process of shaping the wreath for the wreath recipe.

Now you have a log of dough which will be similar to a Swiss roll. Cut the dough in half lengthways so you have two long strips of dough.

Twist or fold the dough to form a braid-like shape. Try to make sure the exposed jam side is on top!

I made sure my dough was as long as possible so I could create a wreath from it.

Unbaked raspberry wreath on baking paper

Once you have twirled your dough, transfer it to a sheet of baking paper. It's easier to do it at this stage because shaped wreaths are hard to transfer! Then simply bring the two edges together to form a circle or wreath.

Allow the wreath to rest for about 30 minutes to 1 hour then bake!

Close up of raspberry wreath with chopped pistachios on baking paper and marble serving board.

Serving the festive raspberry wreath

I sprinkled some chopped pistachios to add festive cheer and colour to the wreath. Of course, you can sprinkle other nuts or skip it altogether!

To make the wreath more indulgent, feel free to drizzle some dark or white chocolate on top! It may take attention away from the beautiful raspberry pattern but it'll be extra delicious :).

Customising this wreath recipe

If you want to make the wreath EXTRA festive, you can also:

Add some raisins and extra spices to the dough when you mix all the ingredients together
Add some chocolate chips to the dough. Same as above!
Use a gingerbread filling instead of the jam filling. I'd recommend the filling I used for my Gingerbread Rolls.

See my other vegan Christmas dessert recipes

Raspberry and Pistachio Wreath Recipe

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Resting time2 hrs

Total Time1 hr

Course: Dessert

Keyword: baking, bread

Servings: people

Ingredients

Quick Raspberry Jam (or use thick store-bought jam!*)

1 cup (110g) fresh or frozen raspberries
3 tbsp (40g) cane sugar, or liquid sweetener to taste
2 tbsp (14g) corn flour or corn starch
Dash of water
Squeeze of lemon juice, to taste (optional)

Wreath

3 cups (375g) plain or all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
¾ cup (165mL) plant-based milk, such as almond, soy or coconut, warm
½ cup (112g) vegan butter, room temperature
3 tbsp (40g) cane sugar, or coconut sugar
1 tablespoon (10g) instant dried yeast**
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of any good-quality salt, if not using salted butter

Optional add-ins

½ cup roughly chopped chocolate
¼ cup raisins
¼ teaspoon ground ginger

To decorate***

¼ cup (50g) cane sugar
2 tbsp (30mL) water
¼ cup pistachios

Instructions

To make the jam:

Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil for 5 minutes. Stir while mashing the raspberries. Reduce to a simmer for another few minutes or until the raspberries have broken down. The mixture is ready when it's thick and sticky. Remove from the heat and cool.

To make the dough:

Combine all ingredients (and optional add-ins) in a large bowl or stand mixer and mix until it comes together. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes or until the dough becomes soft, stretchy and comes away from the side of the bowl. If the dough continues to stick, add a little more flour and knead again. If the dough is a little dry, add a dash of milk and knead again.
Leave the dough in the bowl or stand mixer, cover with a tea towel and leave it in a warm place for at least 1 hour or until the dough doubles in size. If it doesn't double in size, place it in a WARMER spot and wait until it does.
Dust a clean surface with flour. Roll out the dough into a rectangle shape around 25 x 45 cm large (10 x 20 inch). Spread the cooled jam onto the dough so it's close to the edge.
Starting from the long side of the dough, roll it into a tube.**** Use a sharp knife to cut the tube in half length ways creating two long 'strips' of pastry. Carefully twirl the two halves together.
Placethe dough on a lined baking tray. Connect the two ends of the dough together to form a wreath. Cover the wreath and let it rest in a warm place for at least 30 minutes or until increased in size by at least 20%. You can also let the wreath rest in the fridge overnight.

Baking the wreath:

If you chilled your wreath overnight, let it come to room temperature. When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F).
Bake the wreath for 15-20 minutes or until the outside is slightly golden brown. If you insert a skewer into the wreath, there should be no wet dough on it. Allow the wreath to cool on the baking tray.

Decorating the wreath:

To make a sugar glaze, add the sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. While the babka is still hot, drizzle the sugar glaze on top.
Sprinkle the pistachios on the wreath just before serving. Enjoy! The wreath is best eaten the day it is baked. Alternatively, store it an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.

Notes

* If your store-bought jam is a little runny, reduce it on the stove for 5 minutes. Add the jam to a small saucepan over medium heat and allow it to simmer until it's thick and some of the liquid has evaporated. The jam should not drip and be sticky. If in doubt, the thicker the better! Use the pictures in the blog post as a reference.

** Instant yeast doesn't need to be 'activated' or 'bloomed' beforehand. However, if you use another type of yeast, combine it with warm milk and a pinch of sugar beforehand. Wait until it bubbles then use it in the recipe.

*** If you're avoiding refined sugar, you can use 50g of any liquid sweetener instead of the sugar and water. Heat it up and drizzle on the wreath while it's hot.

**** If you think your dough is too soft and will be difficult to shape, place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. This is just for the wreath's appearance and won't affect its taste or texture.

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