Paska

Ready In 210 min.
Prep 180 min.
Cook 3 min.

Description

It’s tradition in the home for some of our egg farmers to serve this bread for late afternoon tea on Easter day.

Instructions

Stir together 2 cups (500 mL) flour and the salt in a large bowl. Set aside.

Stir yeast into water; add 2 tsp (10 mL) sugar and stir until dissolved. Let mixture stand for 10 minutes until doubled in volume.

Meanwhile, beat eggs with electric mixer. Gradually beat in 3/4 cup (175 mL) sugar.

Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in scalded milk. Add egg mixture; beat well. Add butter, and lemon and orange rinds and juices, and yeast; beat until combined. Add 1 cup (250 mL) flour at a time, until dough is soft and holds its shape. Knead on a flour-covered surface until elastic and no longer sticky.

Place dough in a large bowl. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap that has been rubbed with a little oil. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Punch down and let rise again until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Divide dough in half; form each half into a loaf shape and place into a lightly greased 9 x 5-inch (23 x 12 cm) loaf pan. Let rise until doubled in bulk, about an hour.

Bake in a preheated 325°F (160°C) oven until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes, then remove loaves from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack.

Ice just before serving.

Icing: For each loaf, stir together 2 cups (500 mL) icing sugar with 1 tsp (5 mL) lemon juice and enough milk (approximately 4 tbsp/60 mL) to make a smooth icing that can be spooned over loaf. Decorate with sprinkles.

Tip: To scald milk, bring it nearly to a boil in a thick-bottomed pan, stirring frequently.

Brought to you by: Egg Farmers of Ontario