Paska Bread

So I usually cheat and do my paska bread in the bread machine so it just comes out as a loaf (see photo below) instead of the traditionally braided loaf with decorations. But my aunt does it the proper way. The recipe below is for a bread machine, though now that I have left my bread makers behind I will be forced to do it the traditional way.

Ingredients

80 ml (1/3 cup) sugar
250 ml (1 cup) water, warm
30 ml (2 tbsp) milk powder (get it at the bulk food store)
2 eggs
45 ml (3 tbsp) butter
5 ml (1 tsp) salt
1 l (4 cups) flour
7 ml (1 1/2 tsp) bread machine yeast
125 ml (1/2 cup) golden raisins

Preparation

Place all ingredients except for the raisins in the bread pan in order according to manufacturer's instructions. If you want to shape the dough yourself, set machine to dough setting. Listen for the "add ingredient" signal/beep and add the raisins.

When cycle is finished, remove dough to a lightly floured surface and knead lightly, forming a large ball. Put dough into a well-buttered, round bowl. The dough will rise until it expands over the edges so butter top edge of the dish too. Cover and place in a warm place to rise for about 30 to 45 minutes. Punch down and let rise again.

Take a portion of the dough and form a a round base approximately 1 inch thick. Cover the bottom of a 9 inch round greased pan. Take 1 equal pieces of dough and roll to 36 inches in length. \Line them up side by side and the intertwine them. take the "braid" and wrap it around the inside of the pan. Take 4 equal pieces of dough and roll them out to 10 inches inn length. Create two braids in the same manner and curl them in the base of the pan. Let the dough rise again but not too long or it will lose the shape of the braids. Brush with beaten egg.

Bake in a 325 F for 15 minutes and then at 350 F for 40-45 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool on a rack.

You can also make little doves with the left over dough but this is beyond my skill.

If you are happy with just a loaf of paska bread (like me) then set the bread machine to the brioche or sweet bread setting. As before listen for the add ingredient sound and add the raisins. The loaf will bake in the bread machine.