Paska Bread (Easter Bread Recipe)
Paska Bread is a Ukrainian and Slovak Easter bread recipe that is traditionally served on Easter morning with other Eastern European Food. Similar to Polish Babka, this eggy, slightly sweet bread with golden raisins is a delicious family tradition.
Servings: 10
Cost: $10
Equipment
- 1 Stand mixer
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- ½ cup warm milk
- 2 ¼-oz packets active dry yeast 1/2 ounce total
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
For the Dough
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup butter softened at room temperature
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 5-6 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup golden raisins
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Add yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar to warm milk, and set aside until foamy
- Add the eggs, sugar, butter, milk and vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, and mix until combined
- Stir in the yeast mixture, salt and 2 cups flour
- Gradually add 3 more cups flour, and knead with dough hook attachment or by hand until dough is smooth. Add another cup flour if necessary. Dough should be slightly sticky but shouldn't stick to your hands
- Stir in the raisins until well blended
- Place dough ball in a large mixing bowl, greased well with butter. Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour or until doubled
- Punch dough down. Then, turn onto a lightly floured surface, and cut off slightly less than ¼ of the dough
- Divide small piece of dough into 3 pieces, and roll out into 3 long ropes, using your fingers
- Pinch ends of ropes together, and braid into 1 long braided rope. Cut rope in half
- Place larger piece of dough into buttered 9-inch cake pan, and smooth out so it evenly covers the pan
- Form a cross with the braided dough on top of the paska
- Place dough in a warm place and let dough rise for 30 to 45 minutes. Dough should be close to top of cake pan
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Mix egg and water together. Gently brush the egg wash over the top of the bread
- Place paska dough into preheated oven, and bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Bread should sound hollow when tapped, and temperature should be 190℉ according to instant read thermometer. It may take up to 50 minutes.
- Remove bread from oven, and allow to cool slightly. Gently remove from cake pan, and allow to finish cooling on a wire baking rack
Notes
You can warm the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds until it reaches 110 degrees f. Or, follow directions on the package of yeast for correct temperature.
Check the bread during the baking process. If it starts to get too brown, cover loosely with aluminum foil. Or, reduce temperature to 325 degrees f if needed.
Store paska in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 305mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 4mg