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| Italian Easter Bread |
The April Daring Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Wolf of
Wolf’s Den . She challenged us to Spring into our kitchens and make Easter breads reflecting cultures around the world.
Making bread is my "thing." I have loved to bake bread since I was young. So this month's challenge (ok, technically last month's!) was right up my alley. I had never made Easter bread before and was pleased to find out it was easy to do and tasted delicious!! Mt braids ended up HUGE, and they wer a little underbaked.... same for the eggs. BTW I dyed them using Kool Aid, since they were touching something edible.
Italian Easter Bread
recipe from
The Italian Dish
makes 6 individual loaves
Ingredients:
- 1 package Rapid Rise yeast
- 1.25 cups scalded milk, cooled to room temperature
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3.5 cups flour (approximate)
- 1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon of water
- 6 dyed Easter eggs (raw - do NOT hard boil them first!)
- sprinkles
Instructions:
1. In a large mixer bowl, combine yeast,
warm (not hot) milk, salt, butter, eggs and sugar. Add about half the
flour and beat until smooth with dough hook. Slowly add the remaining
flour to form a stiff dough. Add flour until the dough is not sticky anymore. Knead
until smooth with either dough hook attachment or turn out on floured
board and knead.
2. Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm
place until doubled, about an hour.
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| fat little braided dough circles |
3. Punch dough down, divide into 12 pieces. Roll each piece to form a 1
inch thick rope about 14 inches long and, taking two pieces, twist to
form a "braid", pinching the ends. Loop into a circle.
4. Place on a greased baking sheet or line your baking sheet with
parchment paper or a Silpat. Cover and let rise until double, about an
hour again.
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| and the eggs were nestled all snug in their braids |
5. Brush each bread with beaten egg wash. Put on the
sprinkles. In the middle of each bread ring, gently place an Easter
egg, making an indentation with the egg.
6. Bake at 350 degrees until golden - about 20 - 25 minutes. Cool on rack.
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| Italian Easter Bread - Halloween style!! |
