Easter Bread

Easter Sweet Bread: A Traditional Delight

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 40-50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Number of servings: 10-12 slices

Sweet bread is undoubtedly one of the most beloved culinary traditions of Easter. This quick and simple dessert brings joy every year, and its inviting aroma will fill your home with festivity. In this guide, I will walk you step by step through the preparation of a perfect sweet bread, with a rich filling and fluffy texture.

Ingredients:

For the dough:
- 1 kg of wheat flour
- 300 ml of milk
- 100 g of butter
- 100 ml of oil
- 4 eggs (3 for the dough and 1 for brushing)
- 200 g of sugar
- 30 g of fresh yeast or 10 g of dry yeast
- 1 vanilla essence
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- A pinch of salt

For the filling:
- 300 g of ground walnuts
- 200 g of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of cocoa (optional)
- 2 eggs
- 100 ml of milk
- 1 rum essence (optional)

Preparation:

1. Start by melting the butter together with the oil. Let them cool slightly, then add the warm milk (but not hot) and mix well. This mixture will give the sweet bread a fine texture and rich flavor.

2. In a large bowl, scald 3 tablespoons of flour with 200 ml of boiling milk. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. This step helps develop the gluten and ensures a fluffy consistency for the dough. Let it cool.

3. In another container, dissolve the yeast in 100 ml of lukewarm milk with 1 tablespoon of sugar and let it rise for 10-15 minutes until foam forms on the surface.

4. In a large bowl, combine the remaining flour (about 1 kg), sugar, salt, lemon zest, and the butter and milk mixture. Add the beaten eggs and the activated yeast. Mix well with a spoon or by hand until the dough becomes elastic. If it's too sticky, you can add a little more flour.

5. Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes, then cover it with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.

6. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Mix the ground walnuts with the sugar, cocoa, eggs, and milk. Add the rum essence if you want a more intense flavor.

7. Once the dough has risen, divide it into two equal parts. Roll out each part on a floured surface, forming a rectangle. Spread the filling evenly over each sheet of dough.

8. Carefully roll each sheet, then form a spiral or braid the two rolls for an impressive visual effect. Place the sweet breads in a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Let them rise again for 30 minutes.

9. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Brush the sweet breads with beaten egg for a golden and shiny crust. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until they are nicely browned and pass the toothpick test.

10. After baking, let the sweet breads cool in the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.

Serving and variations:

The sweet bread is delicious served plain, but you can decorate it with powdered sugar for a festive look. An interesting variation would be to add raisins or chocolate pieces to the filling for a special touch. You can also experiment with different types of nuts, such as almonds or hazelnuts.

This Easter sweet bread recipe will surely become a tradition in your family. Enjoy each slice with your loved ones and celebrate the holidays!

 Ingredients: -1kg flour -200g butter +3 tablespoons oil -5 egg yolks -250g sugar -200+300 ml milk -50g yeast -1 teaspoon salt -grated lemon, orange, rum essence, vanilla sugar. Fillings: -poppy, boiled in about a cup of milk +200g sugar +2 packets of vanilla sugar, then added when well cooled, 2 beaten egg whites; -walnuts + 2 tablespoons cocoa + 150g sugar + rum essence and lemon zest + 3 beaten egg whites; -raisins; - Turkish delight.