- In a bowl, combine yeast, water, milk, butter, and salt. Add anise extract, beaten eggs, and sugar. Stir in flour, 3 cups at a time. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead for 10 minutes or until smooth.
- Put the dough into a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once, and cover with a damp towel. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours. (Gently press 2 fingers into the dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- At this point, you can either:
- Punch down and place in 2 greased 9-inch round pans, reserving just enough dough to form a cross on top of each loaf. Place a red egg in the center of each loaf (if using) and form a cross over it. Let rise for 1 hour.
- Divide dough into three equal portions, rolling each portion into a long rope. Place ropes lengthwise on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray (do not stretch); pinch ends together at one end to seal. Loosely braid ropes together on the baking sheet; pinch loose ends to seal. Lightly coat the dough with cooking spray. Tucked dyed eggs into the braid; they will cook as the bread cooks.
- Let rise 1 hour, then bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from pans immediately and brush with butter.
The Old Farmer's Almanac Editors
Easter Recipes
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Thank you for the recipe. It would be appropriate to add that in Greece and the rest of the Orthodox world, Easter - Pascha - is celebrated May 5th this year. Orthodox Christianity still uses the Julian Calendar, not the Gregorian Calendar of the Latin West.
That's a lot of flour. Could I cut the recipe in half? Maybe 1/3?
Hi, Nova. Please note that the recipe makes two loaves, hence the amount of flour.
I do a similar thing for this Easter bread by adding dried fruit and nuts. Then I divide half the dough into three pieces and bread it. Form into a ring and set dyed raw eggs in between the braid seams bake as directed and decorated with a confectioners sugar glaze and pretty sprinkles. Great for breakfast or anytime the desire hits for somethin sweet.
