Raspberry and Pistachio Wreath Recipe

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

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Resting time2

Total Time3

Cuisine: American, Vegan

Ingredients

Quick Raspberry Jam (or thick store-bought jam, see note 1)

▢ 1 cup (110g) fresh or frozen raspberries
▢ 3 tablespoons (40g) granulated sugar, or liquid sweetener to taste
▢ 2 tablespoons (14g) cornstarch / corn flour
▢ Dash of water
▢ Squeeze of lemon juice, to taste (optional)

Wreath

▢ 2 ½ - 3 cups (315 - 375g) all-purpose plain flour, or bread flour (start with less flour and add more if needed)
▢ ⅔ cup (165g) dairy-free milk, warm
▢ ½ cup (115g) vegan butter, room temperature
▢ 3 tablespoons (40g) granulated sugar, or coconut sugar
▢ 1 tablespoon (10g) instant dry yeast, (note 2)
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
▢ Pinch of salt, if not using salted butter

Optional add-ins

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

To decorate (note 3)

▢ ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
▢ 2 tablespoons (30g) 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 final mixture should be like a thick very thick and sticky paste (the thicker, the better). It should keep shape and 'stick' to a spoon almost like frosting or buttercream. Remove from the heat and cool.

To make the dough:

Add 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 and stretchy. The dough should be tacky but shouldn't stick to the side of the bowl. If the dough is sticky, add a little more flour and knead again. If the dough is dry (where cracks are showing on the surface), add a dash of milk and knead again.
Leave the dough in the bowl or stand mixer, cover with a tea towel and place 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 (note 5). Use a sharp knife to cut the tube in half length ways creating two long 'strips' of pastry. Carefully twirl the two halves together.
Place the 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 1 hour 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 20-30 minutes. The amount of time will depend on your dough and how you made the wreath. The wreath is ready when the surface is slightly golden brown and if you press the surface, it should feel firm and bounce back quickly. 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 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.

Nutrition

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