Yield: 2 Loaves
| Measure | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| ½ cup | Water |
| ¼ teaspoon | Saffron threads |
| 1½ tablespoon | Dry yeast |
| 2 tablespoons | Granulated sugar |
| 1 cup | Melted butter |
| 1½ teaspoon | Salt |
| 4 cups | All-purpose flour |
| ¾ cup | Finely chopped hazelnuts (Oregon hazelnuts) |
| 4 | Eggs |
| 1 | Egg yolk; mixed with... |
| ¼ cup | Light cream |
Bring water to a boil and pour over saffron threads. Allow to cool to 105; combine with yeast and sugar. Let set 15 minutes. Mix melted butter, salt, flour, hazelnuts, eggs and yeast mixture. Beat by hand until smooth. Place in buttered bowl, turn, cover and set in draft-free place to rise until doubled, about 1 to 1-½ hours. Punch down and shape into 2 loaves. This can be braided as well. Brush each loaf with the egg yolk wash, let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes, until deep golden brown. Cool.
* COOKFDN brings you this recipe with permission from: * Oregon Hazelnut Industry and The Hazelnut Marketing Board