Easter Paska

Happy Belated Easter! We had unseasonably warm weather and bright sunshine on Easter Sunday in New York. 🙂 In the afternoon, we visited a local swan to admire her impressive nest.

I made this buttery and eggy Eastern European Paska to enjoy for breakfast over Easter weekend. My daughter braided the dough for the decorative cross. She did such a great job! 🙂 It was such a light and fluffy loaf- really delicious. We ate it topped with butter and jam. It was also recommended to eat with kielbasa or leftover Easter ham.

This recipe was adapted from King Arthur Flour.com. I used a bread machine to knead the dough and omitted the sugar topping. It could have been used as a beautiful centerpiece as well.

Yield: 1 large loaf

For the Bread:

• 1 cup (8 oz) lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup (4 oz) whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons/2 oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 5 cups (21.25 oz) all-purpose flour or bread flour
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt

For the Topping:

• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• coarse sugar, like turbinado, optional (I omitted the sugar)

1. To make the dough: Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough. (I used a bread machine.)
2. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, and let it rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until it’s noticeably puffy. (I placed it in a warming drawer on the “proof” setting.)
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; divide it into two pieces, one twice as large as the other. Take the larger piece, roll into a ball, and place it into a well-greased 9″ x 2″ round pan.
4. Divide the other piece of dough into three equal pieces, and roll each out into a 20″ strand; use the three strands to create one long braid. 
5. Place the braid around the inside edge of the pan, or use it to form a cross over the top of the larger piece of dough. 
6. Cover the loaf and let it rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. (I used a proofing oven.)
7. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F, preferably on convection, with a rack in the center.
8. To make the topping: In a small bowl, beat the egg with the water. Brush the mixture gently over the top of the risen loaf, and sprinkle with coarse white sparkling sugar, if desired.
9. Bake the bread for 35 to 45 minutes, or until it’s a rich golden brown. Remove it from the oven, and turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool before cutting.

One Year Ago:

• Pear Clafoutis

Two Years Ago:

• Easter Babka

Three Years Ago:

• Whole Wheat Oat Bran-Raisin Muffins
• Johnnycake Bread

Four Years Ago:

• Apple-Cinnamon Pull-Aparts
• Sweet Brioche Dough

About Josette@thebrookcook

I live in Stony Brook, New York on Long Island. I love garlic and baking. My hobby (and love) is to try new recipes. My favorite recipe resources include The New York Times, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, and Martha Stewart Living. Enjoy!

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