Braided Easter bread - treccia di Pasqua
A simple sweet bread you can make easily by hand, or using your stand mixer. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, or as a sweet treat (even if it's not Easter!!!)
Ingredients
- 550 gr bread flour If you use whole wheat reduce the quantity to 500gr. 2 ½ cups or 2 cups whole wheat
- 300 ml of milk 1 ¼ cups
- 150 gr of sourdough or 3gr or dried yeast ¾ cup or ¼ tsp dried yeast
- 1 large egg
- 80 gr butter ⅓ cup
- 100 gr of sugar ½ cup
- 150 gr of raisins ¾ cup
- 1 lemon and 1 orange zest
- 1 tbs of cream and 1 yolk to brush
Instructions
How to make braided Easter bread by hand
- In a large bowl put milk, egg, sugar and sourdough starter (or dried yeast). Mix well then add the flour and the zests. Mix until all ingredients are well combined and you get a sticky ball of dough.
- Leave it to rest for 30min and up to 12h if you want to reduce the kneading time. If the room temperature is higher than 21°C (70°F) leave the dough to rest in the fridge.NOTE: if you use dried yeast, leave the dough to rest for at least 8/10h.
- After the resting time, knead the dough for a minute until it becomes smooth. Then add the butter (should be at room temperature). Knead for a few minutes and leave to rest for another 30min.
- Now add the raisins and knead to incorporate well.TIP: to check if the dough has the right elasticity, you can take a small ball and pull it until you can see through without breaking it.
How to make braided Easter bread with a standing mixer
- In the bowl of the mixer put milk, egg, sugar and sourdough starter. Mix well then add the flour and the zests. Mix for 5/6 minutes until all ingredients are well combined and you get a very smooth ball.
- Now add the butter and knead for a few minutes. Add the raisins and knead at low speed to incorporate them.
The following steps are the same for both methods
- Divide the dough into three and roll the pieces into cylinders. Braid the dough and leave it to rise on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let the braid rise until it's almost doubled in size.
- Pre heat the oven to 180°C (360°C). Brush the braid with the mixture of cream and yolk and decorate with sugar granules or other decoration you like. Cook for around 35/40min.
- Let it cool down a wire rack and enjoy!
