how to make swiss bread animals

Bread animals – how to make turtles and snails from Swiss yeast dough

Bread

I have here an ultra cool recipe for turtles and snails made of Swiss Bread using yeast dough. My kids adore the animals and love to eat them! You can also make the characters together with your kids, there are no limits to your imagination. Children love to help and to create things themselves. The animals do not have to look perfect at the end. For the kids it is important to recognize the animals and to have some chocolate chips in it.

swiss bread animals
swiss bread animals – turtles

Ingredients for yummy Swiss yeast bread:

  • 1 kg flour
  • 6 dl milk
  • 3 teaspoon sugar
  • 150g butter
  • 5 teaspoon yeast
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 1 egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water/olive oil

Processing:

  • put the flour in a big bowl
  • form a hole in the middle
  • stir in lukewarm milk with the yeast and sugar
  • then stir in the softened butter
  • add salt

Mix well until a smooth dough is formed. Knead well by hand for at least 10 minutes. Then place dough in a bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel. Leave it for about 1.5 hours at room temperature and allow the dough to ferment until the size has doubled.

When the yeast dough has doubled, knead well again. Cut small portions and shape the animals to your taste.

how to make a turtle with yeast dough
1) form legs, body and head
how to make a turtle with yeast dough
2) flatten body, form head
how to create a turtle with yeast dough
3) put the body over the legs
how to create turtles from yeast dough
4) form more turtles with the dough

Place the animals on a greased baking tray. Brush lightly with the egg mixture. Leave them for 20 minutes. Then brush lightly again. Now you can cut with a scissors twice each leg. I use chocolate chips for the eyes, please press firmly into the head. For the turtle shell cut a nice pattern into the dough.

how to create animals from yeast dough swiss bread
how to create animals from yeast dough swiss bread

For the snails just make a long roll, turning in the middle around your own finger. So you can form the house, take a second small roll and form the tail. Just put some chocolate chips for the eyes and cut a nice mouth. That’s it!

Baking

Put the tray into the cold oven and bake it at 180 degrees (fan bake) for about 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Test if ready: tap the bottom of the animal bread, if it sounds hollow then the bread is done. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy with butter, honey or yummy jam!

See also my yummy chocolate chips cookies or the Swiss braided bread!

Rainy day? Indoor activity, see also: tinker with children!

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