Ingredients: |
Ingredients: One envelope of dry yeast
1/2 cup of milk warmed up in microwave - not boiling
1/4 cup of butter, softened but not melted, in microwave
1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp. of salt
2 tsp. of anice seeds (* instead of anice, Mom would sometimes add raisins)
3 eggs(at room temperature)
approx. 2 to 3 cups of flour
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Directions: |
Directions:In a mixer bowl, add the envelope of dry yeast with 1/2 cup of sugar and the warm milk. You will see the yeast start to bubble slowly. Wait about 5-10 minutes then add the softened butter and 1/4 tsp. salt. Mix by hand and slowly add 3 eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Turn on mixer and mix for approx. 2 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup of flour at a time until a nice soft dough forms. At this stage, the mixing can be done by hand on a countertop. Knead for a few minutes making sure to have the counter well floured. Form into a soft ball and put in a bowl. Cover with a tea towel and put in the oven to protect from drafts (oven should not be on).
After 2 hours, the dough will double in size. Remove from bowl, punch it down and knead gently for about a minute. Cut the dough in half. With one half, use your hands to roll into a long rope, about 1 inch thick. Fold the rope in half and twist together to make a braid. The braid should then be placed on a cookie sheet covered in parchment. Repeat the same with 2nd half of dough. Cover again and let dough rise again for about an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place racks in middle of oven. Once the braids have puffed up, bake in oven for approx. 25 minutes. Bottom will bake quickly so keep an eye on them.
Once cooled, drizzle with icing sugar that is mixed with lemon or orange juice until thin. Drizzle over top and add sprinkles or coloured sugar if desired.
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Personal
Notes: |
Personal
Notes: When Mom made her Easter bread, the house filled with the sweet aroma of baking bread. She made it throughout the year but at Easter, she decorated it with colourful sprinkles and Easter eggs. She then delivered the decorated sweet bread to her friends and to my Uncle. The first year after Mom passed, I so wanted to make this bread for Dad but did not have a recipe. My sister and I searched on line and I finally found this recipe which is almost identical to Mom's but never as good. Even today, I love to make it just to smell the sweet aroma when it bakes. Happy memories.
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This recipe for Nonna Lucia's Easter Bread is from