All Saints' Bones (Czech Kosti všech svatých)

Lightly sweet Czech yeast rolls shaped like little bones and souls, baked for All Saints' Day and Dušičky. Known to some as bone bread.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Czech

Keyword All Saints' Bone, All Saints' Day recipe, bone bread, Czech yeast pastry, Dušičky

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 15

Rising time 2 10

Total Time 2 55

Servings rolls

Calories 221kcal

Mix ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons active dry yeast in a glass. Let it rest in a warm spot for about 10 minutes, until foamy.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup milk (lukewarm), 1 egg, 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter (not hot), 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add the activated yeast mixture.
Knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and only slightly sticky.
Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 ½ hours, until doubled.
Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and shape them into bones, souls, or vertebrae (see Notes).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the shapes about 1.5 inches (4 cm) apart. Cover with a tea towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Toward the end of the rise, preheat the oven to 390 °F.
Brush the risen shapes with ½ egg (beaten) and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons poppy seeds, if using.
Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden brown. Let the rolls cool briefly before serving.

Milk: lukewarm means about 100°F (37°C), barely warm on the wrist. Hot milk kills the yeast.
Shapes: for bones, roll a rope and lay it in a gentle S, or thin the rope in the middle, cut into both ends, and spread them apart. For souls, twist two ropes together and join them into a small ring. For vertebrae, set four small balls in a row so they touch.
Sealing: press the ends of twisted shapes together firmly, or they open up in the oven.
Oven: temperatures are for a conventional oven; for convection, lower by 25°F.
Store: airtight at room temperature for 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.