Directions: |
Directions:Bread Machine
Turn bread machine on Basic Dough Setting and hit start. While it is preheating, place 1 packet of Active Dry yeast in a small bowl. Add 1 Tbsp of sugar and 1/4 C of warm water and stir. Set aside. The warm water and sugar should activate the yeast to begin fermenting, causing it to become frothy.
Add all of the ingredients to the bread machine, putting the yeast in last.
Without the Bread Machine
Mix all of the ingredients into a large bowl, adding the yeast last. Form it into a large ball and place in a greased bowl and cover with a clean towel. Keep in a warm oven (off) until the dough doubles in size. Continue using the instructions below.
Preheat oven to 200º
At the completion of the cycle, remove the dough onto a floured surface. Punch it down to remove all of the air bubbles. Divide the dough into 3 even pieces.
Roll each piece into a long tube.
Place the tubes onto a greased cookie sheet, side by side. Place one tube in the center of the tray, then another on each side, connecting them at the top. Begin braiding the dough, Finish the braid by folding over the remaining edges and tucking it underneath.
Carefully take the raw, colored eggs and place within the center of the dough, at the seams.
Tent loosely with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side down. Place in warm oven for at least 1 hour or until the loaf has doubled in size. *Readjust the eggs if necessary.
Remove from the oven and brush on the beaten egg with a pastry brush.
Heat oven to 350º, place tray on center rack and cook for approximately 20 minutes, or until the bread is a toasty brown.
Remove from the oven to cool.
Serve immediately or freeze for up to 3 months.
*The eggs will cook in the oven, along with the bread, to a hard boil consistency, and are delicious and perfectly safe to eat! |
Personal
Notes: |
Personal
Notes: This recipe was given to me by my Aunt Nancy. She would come over and we would make this bread from scratch, without any machines. We would use the time to have tea and enjoy each others company. Since then, we all received the R2 D2 looking machines in the 1980's which made making bread alot easier. I even lugged my mom's bread machine across town to Bill's house for our first Valentine's Day dinner. We only made 6 rolls out of the entire batch and after they rose and baked, they were the size of footballs!
Although my mom's bread machine is ancient history, the new one I received from Bill is even simpler to use! This has become an annual tradition and my "Special" Easter gift for my family and friends.
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This recipe for Sweet Easter Bread is from