Easter Bread

Buona Pasqua!

Easter Bread 

Makes 4 round breads. 

5 cups of bread flour 

(680 grams)

1/2 cup sugar (100 grams) 

1 tsp salt (10 grams)

2 tsp dry active yeast 

1 cup warm milk (240 ml)

1/2 cup orange juice (120 ml)

Zest of an orange 

1/2 stick softened butter (2 ounces) (55 grams)

2 eggs for bread 

1 egg plus 2 tablespoon water for egg wash 

4 colored eggs

Sprinkles to decorate 

METHOD:

When measuring flour make sure you move it around to incorporate air otherwise the measurements will be off. 

Add yeast and a tsp sugar to warm milk and let it sit for a minute. If it bubbles it means the yeast is alive and active. 

In the bowl of stand up mixer add flour, sugar, eggs, salt and orange zest.  With hook attachment start mixing slowly add milk/yeast mixture. Then add juice. Once a dough forms slowly add butter a small piece at a time and let it incorporate before adding more. 

Let it mix for about 5 to 7 minutes. 

It should be a soft but not sticky dough.  Lightly grease a bowl with butter and add dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a draft free place until doubled. Usually about 2 hours. 

For best results let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight. Next morning proceed with recipe as follows. 

 Move dough to work surface. Knead to create a ball. Cut into 4 pieces and then halve each piece. You should have 8 pieces pretty much the same size.  Sprinkle a little flour on work surface to facilitate working the dough. 

Roll a piece at a time to about a 14 inch log. 

Once you have 2 pieces rolled pinch together and twist as if creating a rope. Now bring ends together to make a circle.  Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Place an egg in the center. Make the remaining 3 breads. 

Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for about an 1 1/2.  Once doubled in size with a pastry brush brush on egg wash and sprinkle sprinkles on top. Bake in preheated oven on 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 Celsius) for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. 

Enjoy and buona Pasqua!