European Tea Bread – Czech Vanocka
Perfect for tea drinking or coffee dunking, this flaky on the outside, and soft on the inside bread is lightly flavored with plump raisins, slivered almonds, and simple citrus flavor that compliments every drink. Keep this on hand for special occasions or every day eating! Inspired by my Grandma’s Christmas bread, it’s a staple in our house at the holidays and beyond!

Oh, and I’m also giving away the Wolf Countertop Oven that I proofed and baked this beauty in! Get the details below on how to get your own oven! Bread baking became one of my passions a few years ago, to the point I was making a few loaves a week for just Ben and myself.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my carbs, but I needed to corral my love of them and branch out beyond what became my typical loaves – sourdough and multigrain bread.
It was always my dream to learn how to make my grandma’s tea bread.
It’s yearly emergence came at two particular times, Easter and Christmas and she was always ready to give loaves away. Her recipes always make a ton.
Czech Vanocka (pronounced von-och-ka) is a fluffy on the inside, but flaky on the outside bread that is lightly flavored with lemon, raisins, and almond flavors. It is drier in texture than most breads, but that’s the way it is meant to be since it is a perfect tea bread!
Tea in my house growing up was a nightly ritual, with my mom and I making our own cups. Her with chamomile and me with orange spice, with enough honey to cover the bottom of the mug.
Now I appreciate a little less sweetness in my cup. But I always love a tea bread to dunk it.
Now that I have learned to make this European tea bread, or Czech Vanocka, I am set for life and don’t have to wait for my grandma’s holiday loaves, using my new Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven.
What makes this unit special to me is that living in the PNW the temperatures fluctuate and baking bread can be difficult if you don’t get a consistent rise. This Wolf Gourmet oven has a proof function that maintains a consistent 80 degree temperature, perfect for proofing bread!

The next feature I’m super excited to use on a Beef Wellington I want to make, is the temperature probe that is Built In!! AH!
No more overcooking pork tenderloins, or chicken ever again.
This baby is sleek, stylish and what I love most, is that it is pin point accurate! It is large enough to fit most 9×13″ baking dishes, which I think we can agree, a standard toaster oven can’t. This is going to be so handy during the holidays and gatherings at our house.

So, because of we love it so much, Wolf Gourmet wants to give one away to YOU! How’s that for a humpday!
One winner will receive this Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven for your very own. Get the details on how to enter below and soooo much good luck!

European Tea Bread – Czech Vanocka
- Prep Time: 3 Hours
- Cook Time: 1 Hour
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 1 Large Loaf 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Czech
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Perfect for tea drinking or coffee dunking, this flaky on the outside, and soft on the inside bread is lightly flavored with plump raisins, slivered almonds, and simple citrus flavor that compliments every drink. Keep this on hand for special occasions or every day eating!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 4 cups Flour + 2 Tbsp , divided
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Zest
- 1 package Active Dry Yeast
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Milk, warmed to about 110 degrees.
- 2 Egg Yolks, 1 Egg White saved for later
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1 cup Raisins, golden are perfect
- 2 Tbsp Citron
- 1/2 cup Slivered Almonds
- 1 Egg White
Instructions
- Cut the butter into 3 1/2 cups of the flour using a pastry blender until fine crumbles form. Save the last 1/2 cup of the dough for the kneading of the bread. Add in the sugar, salt and lemon zest and combine that into the flour/butter mixture.
- In a 2 cup measuring cup, mix in the yeast, warmed milk, sugar, and remaining 2 tablespoons of flour. Let the yeast activate and begin to bubble, about 5 minutes. Add it to the flour mixture.
- Lightly beat in the egg yolks, and the remaining cup of milk together in the used 2 cup measuring cup and add this to the flour mixture. Using a spatula fold together the mixture. Add in the raisins and slivered almonds and citron.
- Turn the mixture out onto a floured surface (using the 1/2 cup of flour that had been set aside). Knead the dough until it forms a soft ball. Place it in a greased, oven safe bowl and place it in your Wolf Toaster Oven set to “Proof”. Allow the dough to rise for 1 hour.
- Gather the dough, and cut it into equal quarters. Roll the quarters into 24″ long strands. Gather one set of ends together and separate the strands to form a “tee pee” like shape. Always working with the left strand, fold it over the adjacent strand, and then under the next, and over the last strand.
- Repeat this action of “over/under” with each left strand until you reach the end. Gather the ends of the bread together and lightly tuck them underneath the bread just until they are hidden.
- Place the formed loaf back in the oven to proof one additional hour.
- Remove the loaf and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk the egg white with 1 Tbsp of water and brush the top of the loaf generously.
- Bake the loaf for 60-75 minutes or until deep golden brown. Allow to rest on a cooling rack until cooled completely. Slice and serve with tea.
Notes
Do not use a mixer for this recipe as it will overwork the dough.
Keywords: Bread, Tea, Czech, Recipe
I’d probably try making a bread! I think one of the reasons I’ve never had great success with making bread is that my house is too cold or too hot, but this will proof it perfectly.
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Cinnamon rolls! I haven’t made them in years.
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I will make yeast crescent rolls! I would share them with my coworker, who also enjoys baking. We are always swapping roll recipes and trying to come up with the perfect recipe. I must say this tea bread would be pretty high on my list too!
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I would make some personal pizza’s for my family!
Well since you mentioned it, I wished try a beef Wellington! And whomever wanted to come give it a try!
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More than likely bread as I really like the proofing feature on this oven.
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I would make a coffee cake and I would share it with my mom. She is going through a tough time and she deserves a treat!
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I would make your tea bread and have a tea party with my sisters 🙂
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I would be making bread and sharing with my dear friend who is going through a really rough patch right now.
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I would make peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and serve them warm at the the next ladies night I’m hosting!! …perhaps served with a cold White Russian! 🙂
ITALIAN BREAD I WOULD EAT IT ALL
First thing I would try is Clementine Almond Yogurt Cake. Have a weakness for all of those things.
Will share, albeit grudgingly, with the family.
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I am already subscribed to your newsletter and love your website. I love coffee cake and I think that oven will be the perfect one to bake it in. Thank you
I would probably make Runzas.
I would share my Runzas with Louie, my dog, because he thinks that I need to share everything with him. But he never shares his treats.
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I’m not sure what I would make first,but I know it will go in my Airstream motorhome because it has no oven 🙁
id make a homemade pizza and share with my kiddos
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My better half has entered his baking phase this winter. Banana breads have become a bi-monthly to do since before Thanksgiving. Sharing is easy, we live in a multi-family dwelling, in a semi rural area, populated with retired law enforcement and farmers. No lack of deserving neighbors here, lol.
If I won, I’d probably make this bread first. Looks so delicious.
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I think the one thing it would be used the most for is for our kids snack foods, like chicken nuggets and fish sticks. I hate having to heat the entire oven to cook half a pan of fish sticks. This oven would certainly lower my electric bill.
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I love breads and the one posted here looks delicious. 🙂 Either that or date but bread.
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Chocolate crossaints for the boys and I to share onthe weekend.
I would make my husband’s chocolate birthday cake in it!
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The first thing I would make in this gorgeous little oven would be peasant bread. There is enough room in there for two. So, one loaf to enjoy and one to share.
I would make chicken for my family. Thanks!
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I would make our family face Parmesan cheddar bread
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I would make Soda Bread. Share it w/ friends P & J.
I would make a pan of brownies–something quick and easy–and share them with my family. Thank you!
I would love to make a banana bread with the oven. I’d share it with my mom!
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I would make roasted cauliflower and share with my husband!
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I would make a pizza and share it with my best friend!
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I’d make cookies, and share them with my coworkers! What a generous giveaway!
I would invite my mom over and we would make her delicious homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies 🍪.
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My mom passed away 3 weeks ago, so I’d make something for my dad in the toaster oven. I’d probably make this delicious recipe I have for Baked French Toast.
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I would have to try your grammas bread it looks heavenly!!
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My first recipe would be this bread that I’d make for me and my hubby!
I would first like to make a pizza with the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven and share it with my husband.
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I love vanocka! My mom would make it for Easter. That would be what I made first along with buchty. I love my Czech heritage! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I’ve been DYING to get one of these ovens! I’m pretty sure I would make myself a little celebratory pizza if I won this beauty!
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Sticky Buns…because those are just fun to share with people.
There are so many things I would make…first up would be some dark chocolate pistachio cookies to share with my mamma. thanks
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I would obviously be making this bread (because my Czech heritage demands it) and sharing it with my fiance!
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I will take the whole bread!! Gorgeous!
What a gorgeous bread! My dad’s recipes always made a huge batch, too! It would be a special treat, for sure! I think I’d make a super cheesy mac & cheese dish in this Wolf countertop oven! (I followed Wolf on Insta and liked them on FB)! Hope I win!
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I would make cinnamon rolls to share with my husband and friends. I love those red knobs – what a stunning little oven!
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Since it’s winter, I would definitely make cinnamon rolls as part of a family tradition. I would be sharing them with my hubby and our daughter!
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Wow! This bread looks amazing! Can I say that I’d make this if I won? Because we drink tea every night and I’d just love a slice of this with my evening cup.
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I would bake cinnamon rolls to share with my family.
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I would make heart shaped pizzas to share with my husband.
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My grandchildren would absolutely love Tortilla Pizza to try daily.
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Fascinating and amazing Pita Melts, my grandchildren would definitely enjoy having everyday.
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I would also make a czech recipe – my grandmothers poppy seed kolaches.
The poppy seed are one of my favorites TOO!!
Wow, that looks so good! I would definitely share this with my mama. She had always wanted Wolf Gourmet kitchen items! We would most definitely make homemade banana nut bread together. We always have so much fun baking together!
It works really well for me