Russian Easter Bread Food

RUSSIAN EASTER BREAD KULICH

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer or another large mixing bowl combine warm milk, eggs, yeast, sugar, warm melted butter, salt, sour cream and vanilla. Add 480g/4 cups flour to make a batter consistency of sour cream. Cover with a cling wrap and a towel and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
• Add 600g/5 more cups of flour; one cup at a time or until the dough no longer sticks to your hands to make a very soft and elastic dough. Stir in chocolate chips or raisins, candied citrus peel or nuts. (Anything you like in your sweet bread). Cover and let dough rise another 2 hours in a warm place. The rising process will take longer if your house is not very warm.
• Divide dough evenly into three deep 8" baking pans, that have been well-oiled. Try not to handle the dough too much. Let dough rise uncovered in a warm place for additional 2 hours or until you see a significant rise.
• Bake at 350F/180C for 35-40 minutes or until golden. Remove from the pan and cook on a wire rack.
• Once the loaves are at room temperature, melt white chocolate in a double boiler over low heat and cover the tops of bread with it. Use sprinkles to decorate.

KULICH (RUSSIAN EASTER CAKE)

Steps:

• Place golden raisins into a bowl, drizzle with vodka, and allow raisins to soften overnight.
• Mix 1 teaspoon sugar into lukewarm water in a bowl until sugar dissolves. Stir yeast into the water and let stand until the yeast mixture is frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Heat milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until very warm but not simmering. Stir in saffron threads and cardamom, remove from heat, and let the milk mixture stand until lukewarm.
• Transfer yeast mixture into a large mixing bowl. Stir milk mixture, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 cup flour into the yeast mixture, beating until the batter is smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Mix melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, orange blossom honey, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl. Beat butter mixture into the batter, then beat in eggs and egg yolk.
• Mix 2 1/2 cups of flour into the dough. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup flour onto a work surface and knead dough until it holds together, about 5 minutes; knead soaked golden raisins and 1/2 cup almonds into the dough until well distributed.
• Form dough into a ball and place into an oiled bowl; turn dough around in the bowl several times to coat outside of dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down dough, knead a few times, and divide dough into 4 pieces. Coat inside of clean 14-ounce cans with butter. Line cans with parchment paper. Roll each piece of dough into a ball, place into a can, and press dough lightly against the inside bottom of can.
• Cover cans with a cloth and allow dough to rise to the top of the cans, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place a baking sheet into the oven; place the cans of dough upright into oven on baking sheet. Bake until kulich are risen and lightly browned, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let kulich cool in the cans for about 15 minutes before gently removing from cans to finish cooling on racks.
• Beat egg white in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy; beat in confectioners' sugar until the mixture holds stiff peaks. Beat lemon juice into frosting.
• Frost the tops of the kulich and sprinkle tops with 2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds. Refrigerate leftovers.

UKRAINIAN EASTER PASKA

Steps:

• Cover the pan with greased plastic wrap and let rise until almost doubled.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F and bake an additional 40 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 190 F. If necessary, cover the top of the bread with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.

RUSSIAN KULICH

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, and warm milk in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 cups flour and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let stand in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Beat 4 yolks with remaining sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at TK speed until mixture is thick and pale, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in brandy and salt.
• Stir yeast dough to deflate. Add yolk mixture and butter and stir until well blended. Beat 3 egg whites in a bowl with cleaned beaters until they hold soft peaks. Fold whites into batter, then stir in remaining 2 1/2 cups flour. Cover bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Stir dough to deflate, then stir in almonds and raisins.
• Butter 4 clean (10 1/2-ounce) coffee cans. Line bottom of each with a round of parchment or wax paper. Dust insides with flour, knocking out excess. Divide dough evenly among cans. Let dough rise in cans, covered with a towel, until about 1/2 inch from rim, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk together remaining yolk and water, and lightly brush over tops of dough. Bake loaves in cans until tops are golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Turn loaves out onto a rack, turn right side up, and let cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Sift powdered sugar into a bowl, then stir in lemon juice. Spread glaze over tops of loaves, letting it drip down the sides. Let loaves stand until icing is set, about 15 minutes.

RUSSIAN EASTER BREAD (KULICH)

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Heat milk, sugar, butter, saffron, and salt in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm.
• Meanwhile, stir together yeast, warm water, and pinch of sugar and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
• Put flour in a large bowl and make a large well in center. Lightly beat 3 eggs and add to well along with milk and yeast mixtures. Carefully stir together with a wooden spoon, gradually incorporating flour, until a soft dough forms. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Put dough in a lightly oiled large bowl, turning to coat with oil, and let rise, covered with a clean kitchen towel, in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 3 hours.
• Punch down dough and let rise again, covered with towel, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Form loaves:
• Generously butter soufflé dishes. Punch down dough and divide in half. Loosely wrap 1 piece in plastic wrap and set aside. Cut away one third of remaining piece of dough and reserve, then roll remaining two thirds into a large ball and transfer to a soufflé dish.
• Roll reserved piece of dough into an 18-inch-long rope on work surface with palms of your hands. Cut rope into 3 equal pieces and lay pieces vertically side by side on work surface, about 1/4 inch apart. Gather 3 ends farthest from you and press them together, then braid strands, pressing together other ends to secure braid. Lay braid over top of dough in soufflé dish (trim braid if using coffee cans). Form another loaf with remaining dough in same manner.
• Cover loaves with clean kitchen towel and let rise in draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours (loaves will rise about 1 inch above rims of dishes).
• Bake loaves:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly beat remaining egg with a large pinch of salt, then brush egg over top of each loaf. Bake loaves until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, about 1 hour. Turn loaves out onto a rack, then turn right side up and cool completely.

UKRAINIAN EASTER BREAD RECIPE (VIDEO)

Steps:

• Bring the eggs, sour cream and melted butter to room temperature. Heat the milk in the microwave or on the stove top until it's lukewarm, between 120 and 130F (49 to 54C). Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle the dry yeast over the top; let the yeast proof for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, whisk the yeast and milk together and add the sugar, salt, eggs, egg yolks, sour cream and melted butter. Make sure the butter isn't too hot, otherwise the heat can kill the yeast. Whisk the ingredients together for a couple minutes until smooth.
• Add 2 cups (250 g) of all-purpose flour to the batter and whisk it until it's smooth; the remaining flour will be added later. Fill a large pot with hot water, not boiling, and place the mixing bowl with the batter over the pot, ensuring that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Let the batter proof for 1 ½ hours and change the water when it cools down completely.
• While the batter is proofing, prepare the filling. If using dried fruit, place the fruit into a bowl and top it with warm water. Let the fruit stand and rehydrate while the batter proofs.
• Once the batter has proofed, mix in the remaining flour with a spatula or wooden spoon. Once the dough pulls together into a ball, turn it out of the mixing bowl onto the kitchen counter. Sprinkle the counter with a couple extra tablespoons of flour and knead the dough for 4 to 6 minutes, until it's smooth and elastic. Watch my video recipe for extra tips! Don't add too much flour; the butter in the dough will grease the counter, preventing the dough from sticking.
• Drain any remaining liquids from the dried fruit. Spread the dough into a small square and sprinkle the dried fruit, chocolate or nuts on top, then fold the corners of the dough over. Knead for about 1 minute, adding a sprinkle of flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth.
• Roll the dough into a thick log and divide the dough into three even pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Use a kitchen scale for accuracy.
• For the traditional round shape, use 6-inch Panettone paper baking molds, or shape a mold using a double layer of parchment paper: line the bottom and sides of two, 6-inch (15-cm) round baking pans with parchment paper reaching about 6 to 7 inches (15-18 cm) up the side. This bread can also be prepared in regular loaf pans lined with parchment paper.
• Next, prepare the oven for proofing. Fill a large casserole dish with boiling water and place it at the bottom of the oven. Place the baking sheet with the dough onto the middle rack of the oven and close the door. Allow the dough to proof for approximately 2 hours, or until doubled in size. Change the water every 45 minutes to ensure the oven stays warm and humid.

RUSSIAN EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Heat milk, sugar, butter, saffron, and salt in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm.
• Meanwhile, stir together yeast, warm water, and pinch of sugar and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
• Put flour in a large bowl and make a large well in center. Lightly beat 3 eggs and add to well along with milk and yeast mixtures. Carefully stir together with a wooden spoon, gradually incorporating flour, until a soft dough forms. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Put dough in a lightly oiled large bowl, turning to coat with oil, and let rise, covered with a clean kitchen towel, in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 3 hours.
• Punch down dough and let rise again, covered with towel, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Form loaves:
• Generously butter soufflé dishes. Punch down dough and divide in half. Loosely wrap 1 piece in plastic wrap and set aside. Cut away one third of remaining piece of dough and reserve, then roll remaining two thirds into a large ball and transfer to a soufflé dish.
• Roll reserved piece of dough into an 18-inch-long rope on work surface with palms of your hands. Cut rope into 3 equal pieces and lay pieces vertically side by side on work surface, about 1/4 inch apart. Gather 3 ends farthest from you and press them together, then braid strands, pressing together other ends to secure braid. Lay braid over top of dough in soufflé dish (trim braid if using coffee cans). Form another loaf with remaining dough in same manner.
• Cover loaves with clean kitchen towel and let rise in draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours (loaves will rise about 1 inch above rims of dishes).
• Bake loaves:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F
• Lightly beat remaining egg with a large pinch of salt, then brush egg over top of each loaf. Bake loaves until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, about 1 hour. Turn loaves out onto a rack, then turn right side up and cool completely.
• Cooks' note:
• Bread can be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature or frozen 2 weeks.

PASKA (EASTER BREAD)

Steps:

• Peel and chop potato.
• Boil until tender.
• Drain, reserving water.
• Mash the potato.
• Soften yeast in 3/4 cup lukewarm potato water (water from cooking the potato) for 10 minutes.
• Add a bit of flour to make a soft sponge.
• In the meantime, warm the milk.
• Pour it over 2 cups flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Allow to cool slightly.
• Beat egg yolks with 1 cup sugar.
• Add warm flour mixture.
• Add stiffly beaten egg whites.
• Add yeast mixture.
• Cover and let rise until light.
• Add softened margarine, salt, remaining sugar and mashed potato (should have at least half cup mashed potato).
• Add enough flour to make a medium soft dough.
• (It will be a bit sticky-- if too stickly add flour but be careful not to add too much flour.) Knead 10 minutes.
• Cover and let rise to double its bulk.
• Shape into loaves.
• (You may make braided loaves, round loaves, or oval loaves.) Cover and let rise again.
• Bake at 325 F until golden.
• Be careful not to overbake.
• Make icing (or glaze) with powdered sugar and milk.
• Ice when bread is completed cooled.

KULICH EASTER BREAD (PASKA)

Steps:

• Place ingredients, in the order listed, into your bread machine and select the dough program. Should take about 90 minutes to complete the dough cycle.
• Remove the dough onto a floured surface. It will be very sticky. When you knock down the dough, to make it less sticky, add about 1/2 cup of flour and lightly work the dough. You don't want to properly knead it, but really just to keep it from sticking to the table.
• Grease the cans/silicone cylinder with cooking spray. Divide the dough, so that the can/cylinder is filled only 1/3-1/2 from the top with dough (it will rise the rest of the way). Cover with cling wrap and a tea towel, place in a warm place for 1-2 hours, and allow to rise to the top of the cylinder. Be very careful not to bump, slam doors, and even keep away from drafts. This can cause the Kulich to collapse.
• Place into a 180°C/350F preheated oven and bake from 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of your container. If the top is starts to burn, cover with foil and continue to cook. Using a thin wooden skewer, pierce the Kulich, and remove the skewer to test if it is done. If dough sticks on skewer, keep in oven for 5 more minutes and check again.
• Allow to cool on a baking rack. When it is room temperature, Mix the icing sugar, milk and vanilla together. Pour the glaze over the Kulich and top with colorful candy sprinkles.

RUSSIAN EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine yeast, water, 1/4 cup white sugar, and milk. Mix until the yeast and sugar have dissolved.
• Stir in 1 cup flour until well blended.
• Cover and let stand in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer , combine butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, and egg yolks.
• Add yeast-flour mixture, combining thoroughly.
• Add vanilla, cardamom, salt, and enough of the 3 to 3 1/2 cups flour to make a soft dough. Stir in raisins, almonds, and orange rind.
• In a small bowl, beat 2 reserved egg whites until stiff.
• Fold them into the dough. Knead by machine or hand until a smooth and elastic dough forms, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Place in greased bowl, turning once to coat both sides.
• Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
• Coat a 2-pound coffee can or kulich pan with cooking spray.
• Punch down dough and knead a few times.
• Place it in the prepared pan, cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until dough reaches the top of the can.
• Heat oven to 400 F. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350 F and bake another 35 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester or long toothpick or thin skewer comes out clean.
• Remove kulich from oven and let cool 10 minutes. Unmold from the can and cool on a wire rack.
• Gather the ingredients.
• While kulich is baking, prepare the glaze in a small bowl by combining the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice , almond extract, and enough warm water to make a smooth, runny glaze.
• Pour over the top of the kulich allowing it to run down the sides of the cake.