Easter bread with raisins
Description
Perfect for serving with tea and coffee. If you haven't yet found your ideal recipe for Easter raisin kulich, don't pass this one by. The dough turns out simply magical, despite the fact that no milk is used. The vanilla flavor can optionally be enhanced with ground ginger, cardamom, and other spices you love.
Instructions
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Step 1
1. First, prepare the starter. To do this, pour warm water over the yeast, add about 100 grams of flour, and mix thoroughly. Let it sit in a warm place for about half an hour.
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Step 2
2. Meanwhile, beat the eggs with a pinch of salt in a deep bowl.
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Step 3
3. Sift the remaining flour and mix it with sugar, vanilla, and saffron. This Easter kulich with raisins will be simply vanilla-flavored, but you can add other spices as well. Gently mix everything.
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Step 4
4. By this time, the sponge should have increased in size by at least double.
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Step 5
5. Gradually add the eggs to the dry ingredients and mix in the sponge. Slowly but thoroughly mix everything until smooth.
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Step 6
6. Then gradually incorporate the butter into the dough in small portions (you can also use high-quality margarine).
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Step 7
7. The secret to proper dough lies in prolonged and thorough kneading. Don't spare your hands or half an hour of time to knead it well—this will ensure your homemade Easter kulich with raisins turns out perfect. Then place the dough into a pot or a deep bowl, cover it with a lid or plastic wrap, and leave it to rise in a warm place.
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Step 8
8. The dough should rise for at least 5 hours, so you can leave it overnight.
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Step 9
9. Next, knead the dough slightly by hand and add raisins, previously rolled in flour. There's also one nuance here: you can pre-soak the raisins in alcohol (brandy, liqueur) or simply pour hot water over them.
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Step 10
10. Knead again, for no less than half an hour. The main process is now complete. Now you can place the dough into molds, filling them about one-third full. Let the dough rise for 30–35 minutes. Meanwhile, turn on the oven and let it heat up.
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Step 11
11. The dough has risen, so it's time to put it in the oven. First, bake at about 220 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to approximately 180 degrees and continue baking until fully done. Depending on the size of the molds, this will take approximately 10 to 25 minutes.
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Step 12
12. That's the whole secret of making Easter kulich with raisins. Let it cool completely after baking.
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Step 13
13. And then decorate as desired. Happy holidays!