Large Estonian Cinnamon Sugar Braid
Perfect with coffee or tea! A wonderful recipe for fragrant Estonian-style braided pastry with the irresistible aroma of cinnamon. Many will love it and be pleasantly surprised by its refined, rich flavor.
Updated : 29 July, 2026
Easy
More than 1 hour.
Ingredients
120 milliliters
Milk
300 grams
Wheat flour
100 grams
Sugar
2 teaspoon
Dry yeast
80 grams
Butter
3
Chicken eggs
2 teaspoon
Cinnamon
2 teaspoon
Vegetable oil
0.25 teaspoon
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
To prepare Estonian-style sweet braided pastry, prepare the necessary ingredients and spices.
Step 2
Pour 120 ml / about 1/2 cup of room-temperature milk into a mug and add 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Step 3
Add 2 teaspoons of instant dry yeast to the mug.
Step 4
Mix all the ingredients in the mug with a whisk and leave for 15-20 minutes until the yeast activates.
Step 5
Place 2 egg yolks into a suitable bowl.
Step 6
Add 30 g / about 1 oz of room-temperature butter to the bowl.
Step 7
Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the bowl and mix.
Step 8
Pour the activated yeast from the mug into the bowl with the egg mixture.
Step 9
Mix all the ingredients in the bowl until smooth.
Step 10
Sift 300 g / about 2 1/2 cups of flour into the bowl in portions.
Step 11
Mix the flour well with the liquid base.
Step 12
Knead and shape the dough in the bowl by hand into a ball.
Step 13
Place the dough on a table sprinkled with a small amount of flour and knead it very well for about 7 minutes.
Step 14
Grease the dough with a small amount of vegetable oil.
Step 15
Place the oiled dough back into the bowl.
Step 16
Cover the bowl with the dough with a towel and put it in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours.
Step 17
To make the aromatic filling, add 60 g / about 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to a small bowl, then mix.
Step 18
Pour 50 g / about 3 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter into a bowl, then add the mixed cinnamon sugar.
Step 19
Mix all the ingredients in the bowl well.
Step 20
After 1 1/2 hours, pour a small amount of vegetable oil onto the table and remove the dough from the bowl.
Step 21
Knead the dough well, release the carbon dioxide, and shape it into a flat round.
Step 22
Roll out the dough to about 7 mm / about 1/4 inch thick.
Step 23
Spread the prepared aromatic filling over the dough in an even, thin layer, not quite reaching the edges.
Step 24
Set aside about 1 teaspoon of the sugar mixture for coating the braided loaf.
Step 25
Carefully roll the dough with the filling into a tight log.
Step 26
Seal the edges and ends of the log well.
Step 27
Turn the log seam-side down and gently press it to give it a flatter shape.
Step 28
Leaving about 2 cm / about 3/4 inch from one end of the log, make a lengthwise cut with a knife all the way to the other end.
Step 29
Pull the 2 cut ends of the log apart.
Step 30
Start braiding one end over the other.
Step 31
You will get a layered braid.
Step 32
Seal the end of the braid and shape it into a circle.
Step 33
Place the braided loaf on a baking sheet and leave it to proof for 20 minutes.
Step 34
Sprinkle the loaf with the aromatic sugar mixture and place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 170°C / 338°F, using the top and bottom heat setting.
Step 35
After 20 minutes, remove the prepared Estonian-style braided loaf from the oven and transfer it to a plate.
Author note
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