Greek Easter Bread

Description

This is a very nice bread to serve anytime of the year not just at Easter. My mother always made this at Easter time, and I was finally able to get the recipe out of her. Now I want to share it with you. This recipe makes 2 loaves.

Ingredients

  • 5 ½ cups high-gluten flour, divided
  • 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice

Instructions

  1. Mix 2 cups flour and yeast together in the bowl of a stand mixer.
  2. Stir milk
  3. butter
  4. sugar
  5. and salt together in a saucepan; heat and stir over medium-low heat until the mixture is smooth and the temperature is between 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) to 100 degrees F (37 degrees C).
  6. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture
  7. add eggs
  8. and beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and beat for 3 minutes more. Add 1 cup flour and 3 tablespoons orange juice to the mixture; mix on high for 3 minutes more.
  9. Fit the mixer with a dough hook. Add remaining flour to the mixture; beat with dough hook until the flour is completely incorporated.
  10. Grease a glass bowl. Put dough into the bowl. Let dough rise until doubled in volume
  11. 1 to 2 hours.
  12. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  13. Punch dough down. Divide the dough into two halves. Split each half into three even pieces
  14. roll each piece into a cylinder
  15. and braid into loaves. Put loaves onto a baking sheet. Let rise
  16. about 1 hour.
  17. Bake in preheated oven until the middle is baked
  18. 25 to 30 minutes.
  19. Stir confectioners’ sugar and 1 tablespoon orange juice together in a bowl; brush onto the tops of the loaves.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins

Servings: 16

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