Ukrainian Easter Bread Paska
Celebrate Easter with the rich tradition of Ukrainian Easter Bread, known as Paska—a beautifully golden, sweet bread adorned with intricate braids or crosses, symbolizing renewal and faith. This recipe combines simple pantry staples like warm milk, butter, eggs, and yeast, with the unique addition of raisins for a delightful hint of sweetness. The dough is lovingly kneaded and rises twice, ensuring a soft and fluffy texture, while the final touch of an egg wash adds a stunning sheen to its golden crust. Perfect for slicing at your holiday table, Paska pairs wonderfully with both savory and sweet accompaniments. Whether you're embracing Ukrainian heritage or exploring new Easter traditions, this show-stopping bread is a heartfelt centerpiece everyone will savor. Keywords: Ukrainian Easter Bread, Paska recipe, Easter traditions, sweet bread, festive baking.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 0.75 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup Butter
- 2.25 teaspoons Active dry yeast
- 0.25 cup Warm water
- 4 units Large eggs
- 6 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 0.75 cup Raisins
- 1 unit Egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon Water (for egg wash)
Instructions
Heat the milk in a small saucepan until just warm (110°F/43°C). Stir in 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the butter until melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the remaining sugar until light and frothy. Add the vanilla extract, the milk mixture, and the yeast mixture, stirring until combined.
Sift together 5 cups of the flour and the salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface, adding the remaining flour as necessary, until the dough is smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes).
Fold the raisins into the dough, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1.5-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
Punch the dough down and divide it into thirds. Shape two-thirds of the dough into a round loaf and place it in a greased 9-inch round pan.
Use the remaining one-third of the dough to create decorative braids or crosses for the top. Attach decorations with a bit of water.
Cover the assembled dough with the kitchen towel and let it rise again for 30-45 minutes, until puffy.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush it over the top of the bread.
Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. If the top browns too quickly, tent it loosely with aluminum foil.
Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
5071 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 137.9 g | 177% | |
| Saturated Fat | 76.1 g | 380% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1211 mg | 404% | |
| Sodium | 3080 mg | 134% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 833.4 g | 303% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 27.1 g | 97% | |
| Total Sugars | 245.2 g | ||
| Protein | 119.7 g | 239% | |
| Vitamin D | 9.0 mcg | 45% | |
| Calcium | 602 mg | 46% | |
| Iron | 34.4 mg | 191% | |
| Potassium | 2289 mg | 49% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
