Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays worldwide. Of course, a holiday isn’t complete without its festivities and holiday dishes. And in the case of the Easter holiday, that fluffy, sweet, and delightful Easter bread.
Holidays are a time for gathering, reconnecting, and reminiscing about the good old times with friends and loved ones. At the very core of this gathering is a feast, where people would eat and drink to their hearts’ delight in commemorating an event or a person. What makes these holidays more significant is the practice of preparing what’s known as festive dishes or holiday meals. Eleanor Gaccetta’s book on home-cooked food recipes, Generations of Good Food, is a compilation of nearly 200 mouthwatering recipes spanning six generations.
If you’re ready to cook a sumptuous holiday meal, this book is for you! With a variety of recipes to choose from, from pasta dishes, cakes, pastries, and other flavorful desserts, this is the go-to book to liven up your holiday table!
Easter Bread – The miracle bread
For the Easter holiday, you have your Easter eggs, Easter bunny cakes, and Easter ham. Then there’s also the Easter bread. Bread has become the holiday food that connects and brings people together. What makes the Easter bread more significant is the symbol it stood for, an event commemorated by Christianity from all over the world – a sign of Christ’s holy communion, the Last Supper, and ultimately his crucifixion and resurrection. Hence, Easter bread – the miracle bread.
Tracing its roots back to the Greek and Italian tradition, Easter bread varies by country and culture. In Romania and Moldova, the Easter bread is known as the Pască. In Bulgaria, it is the Kozunak. In Ukraine or Polish, it’s called Babka. For the Dutch, the Easter bread is known as the Stol. For the Greek Armenian, it’s known as the Tsoureki. In Italy, it is Pane di Pasqua. And for the British, it’s known as the hot cross bun. So it goes on for other countries. World-over is the popularity of the Easter bread that has become a staple in the Eastern celebration, a shared favorite meal or gift between friends and families during Easter.
Want to start making your very own sweet Easter bread? Get ready, roll your sleeves, and read how to make this well-loved holiday bread treat!
Making the Easter Bread
Easter bread is similar to a brioche, a sweet and yeasted dough. People often top the bread with colorful hardboiled eggs within the twisted dough, creating that marvelous illusion of a ring twist with an Easter egg in the middle that catches the eye. Other people opt to decorate the bread with festive, colorful sprinkles, bringing that fun element to the already inviting, tasty bread!
More than just a holiday tradition, Easter bread is also a colorful and enjoyable addition to any meal and table. Making this light, airy, delightful bread at home usually takes 1 to 3 hours, with 15 minutes of prep time, depending on the serving quantity.
Recipe for a simple, 2-loaf serving Easter bread
For the ingredients, you will need:
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) of active dry yeast
1-1/3 cup warm milk
3 tablespoons warm water
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
2 large eggs
3 teaspoons anise extract
6 to 6-1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 large egg white, beaten
1 tablespoon water
Baking Directions:
- Dissolve the yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Add and mix the milk, butter, sugar, and salt well. Add the eggs, the extract, and the flour. Beat and stir until smooth and soft enough to make a soft dough.
- Place soft dough onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes until elastic and smooth. Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover and allow it to rise in a warm area for about 1 hour until it doubles.
- Punch down the dough. Next, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half, and divide each portion into thirds. Shape each piece into a rope. Transfer each rope-shaped dough onto a greased baking sheet and braid them. Don’t forget to pinch each end to seal them. Do this process with the remaining dough. Cover and let them rise again for another 45 minutes until they double.
- In a separate bowl, whisk in egg white and water. Brush the mixture over the braided dough. Then bake the dough in a preheated oven of 325° for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the baking pan and allow to cool for about 30 minutes before slicing.
- Lastly, eat and enjoy!
Pane di Pasqua Italian Easter Bread – the delightful twist!
Pane di Pasqua, the Italian Easter bread variation, is primarily braided and baked with raw, colored eggs – the enjoyable twist to the Easter bread. The colorful dyed eggs within the oh-so-fluffy dough are all too reminiscent of the spring season and Eastern time.
Making the Pane di Pasqua is similar to creating regular Easter bread. The only difference is that raw, color-dyed eggs are tucked into the braided dough before putting into the oven. As soon as the bread is baked, it puffs around the egg while turning into that enticing golden brown color. While the bread is baking, the eggs are also cooking and becoming hardboiled eggs along with the process. When all the baking is done, wait and see what a wonder of bread comes out of your oven!
Ecco qui! A taste of heaven, the miracle bread for all ages!
If you love this delectable Easter bread, check out some of Eleanor Gaccetta’s other fantastic and delicious recipes at Generations of Good Food. So, put on your chef’s hat, and start cooking, baking, and then eating to your heart’s delight!
The Happy Hammock 