Paska Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Proof the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl until slightly frothy.
• In the meantime, dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in the warm milk; allow to cool to lukewarm. Once cooled, add the milk mixture to the yeast mixture along with 4 cups of flour. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Cover and put in a dark, warm place until the mixture is bubbly and doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Stir in the beaten eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup butter, salt, and lemon peel. Stir well to blend. Begin adding the remaining flour a cup at a time to form a very soft dough.
• Knead the dough on a floured board until soft and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours. Punch dough down, and allow to rise again for 30 minutes.
• Divide dough into three parts (see Cook's Note). Shape into slightly rounded loaves, and place on greased baking sheets. Let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush onto loaves.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven until loaves are deep brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Once they are done, brush the tops with melted butter for a soft crust.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together yeast, 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon sugar, and warm water; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, high-gluten flour, and milk; stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until bubbles form, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in the 5-quart bowl of a professional-size 10-speed mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs, 6 egg yolks, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar on high speed. Slowly add canola oil and mix until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add vanilla, lemon zest, and rum; mix to combine.
• Attach the dough hook attachment to mixer. Add salt, 4 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, and yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until dough comes together. Slowly add butter; continue mixing until dough is no longer sticky, 10 to 15 minutes, adding remaining 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, a tablespoon at a time, to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can knead dough by hand until smooth, 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a large lightly-oiled bowl; shape into a ball and lightly coat top with oil. Cover with a clean kitchen towel, followed by a layer of plastic wrap, and then a second clean kitchen towel; let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Line the bottom of two 6-quart ovenproof saucepans with waxed paper rounds. Line sides with waxed paper, leaving an overhang of 3 inches; spray paper with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• Weight out two 1 1/2-pound pieces of dough; pinch and shape each piece into a flat disk and transfer to prepared saucepans. Using a toothpick, pierce the dough to remove air bubbles. Cover with a clean kitchen towel; let stand in a warm place while preparing decorations.
• Form remaining dough into suns, cross shapes, and fertility symbols for decoration. Brush tops of each loaf with egg white and top with decorative dough; secure using toothpicks. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let loaves stand in a warm place until dough comes to top of pan, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 2 egg yolks with 2 teaspoons water. Brush tops of loaves with egg yolk mixture and transfer to oven; bake until tops are golden brown, about 1 hour. If paska begins to brown too quickly, cover with parchment paper-lined aluminum foil.
• Remove paska from oven. Immediately remove from pans and gently remove toothpicks from bread. Transfer to clean kitchen towel and cover with a second clean kitchen towel to cool. Paska can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 cup warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add remaining water. Beat in the milk powder and 5 cups flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until bubbly, about 20 minutes. Add eggs, butter, salt and remaining sugar; mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half and set 1 portion aside. Divide remaining portion in half; press each portion into a well-greased 10-in. springform pan. Divide reserved dough into 6 balls. Shape each ball into a 30-in. rope; make 2 braids of 3 ropes each. Place a braid around the edge of each pan, forming a circle. Trim ends of braids, reserving dough scraps. Pinch ends of braids to seal. Shape scraps into 2 long thin ropes; form into rosettes or crosses. Place 1 decoration on the center of each loaf. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. , In a small bowl, beat egg and water; brush over dough. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

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.

Steps:

• Make the Bread Dough:.
• In a mixing bowl add 1 cup flour, 1 cup warm milk, and 2 tsp of dry yeast and stir to combine. Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour on top and let sit for 10-15 minutes until the mixture increases in volume and the flour on top is cracked looking.
• To the same bowl, add melted butter, oil, egg, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, and mix until well combined.
• Slowly add the remaining 3 cups of flour while continuing to mix, adding only enough for the dough to clear the sides of the bowl, no more. Adding too much flour will cause the dough to be dry.
• Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. If kneading by hand, use only enough flour to keep dough from sticking to hands and surface, being careful not to add too much.
• Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and leave to rise until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. I like to let dough rise in a closed (off) oven.
• Divide the dough into 4 sections.
• Roll one piece into a 10-inch circle and place it in the bottom of a well-buttered 10 inch springform pan.
• Shape the remaining pieces into thin ropes about 2.5 feet long and braid them together.
• Place the braided pieces in the springform pan, braiding the ends together to form a sealed circle.
• Cover and let rise for another 40 minutes.
• Make the Cheese Filling:.
• When is the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 375F and make the cheese filling.
• In a new mixing bowl, whisk together the cheese, eggs, sugar, raisins, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
• Assemble and Bake:.
• Beat egg with water, and brush the braid with the egg wash.
• Pour the cheese filling into the middle of the braided circle.
• Bake for 15 minute sat 375°F.
• Without opening the oven door, lower the oven temperature to 325F and bake for 45 more minutes or until the crust is deep brown.
• Turn off the oven and crack open the oven door a little bit. Allow the bread to cool slowly inside the oven.
• Slice and enjoy with a hot cup of tea!