Russian Easter Bread

By MJH

Russian Easter Bread is the most delicious and traditional recipe you can add to your Easter feast. Have fun with the whole family and the kids while making this scrumptious Easter Bread, because hey, the more hands the better. This recipe can be served throughout the day or even with dinner at your Easter celebration.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup sugar, plus a pinch, divided
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, 3/4 cup
• pinch of saffron threads, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water, about a temperature of 105 to 115°F
• 6 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting
• 4 large eggs

Details

Servings 2
Preparation time 120mins
Cooking time 180mins
Adapted from mytaste.com

Preparation

Step 1

DOUGH:
Heat milk, sugar, butter, saffron, and salt in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved, about 2 mins.
Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm.

Meanwhile, stir together yeast, warm water, and pinch of sugar and let stand until foamy, about 5 mins.

Put flour in a large bowl and make a large well in center.

Lightly beat 3 eggs and add to well along with milk and yeast mixtures. Carefully stir together with a wooden spoon, gradually incorporating flour, until a soft dough forms.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 10 mins.

Put dough in a lightly oiled large bowl, turning to coat with oil, and let rise, covered with a clean kitchen towel, in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 3 hrs.

Punch down dough and let rise again, covered with towel, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hr.

FORM LOAVES:
Generously butter soufflé dishes (or any baking pans that you want to use).
Punch down dough and divide in half. Loosely wrap 1 piece in plastic wrap and set aside.

Cut away one third of remaining piece of dough and reserve, then roll remaining two thirds into a large ball and transfer to a soufflé dish.

Roll reserved piece of dough into an 18-inch-long rope on work surface with palms of your hands.

Cut rope into 3 equal pieces and lay pieces vertically side by side on work surface, about 1/4-inch apart.

Gather 3 ends farthest from you and press them together, then braid strands, pressing together other ends to secure braid.

Lay braid over top of dough in soufflé dish (trim braid if using coffee cans).
Form another loaf with remaining dough in same manner.

Cover loaves with clean kitchen towel and let rise in draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hrs (loaves will rise about 1-inch above rims of dishes).

BAKE:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.

Lightly beat remaining egg and a large pinch of salt, then brush egg over top of each loaf.

Bake loaves until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, about 1 hour.