Creamy Easter Bread
Description
The baking is simple and quick. Prepare the dough using the sponge method with 10% cream and add fresh yeast. Mix in raisins and candied fruit to taste. The specified amount of ingredients yields three 400-gram kuliches each. Serve warm or chilled. Perfect with tea.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Place all ingredients on the table. Slightly warm the cream in a saucepan.
- 2
Step 2
Place the yeast in a large bowl, add 1 tsp of sugar.
- 3
Step 3
Pour warm cream over and stir with a whisk until the yeast is completely dissolved.
- 4
Step 4
Sift 100 grams of flour into the yeast mixture.
- 5
Step 5
Whisk until all lumps have completely disappeared—this is the starter. Cover the bowl with the starter with a kitchen towel and let it rest undisturbed for 30–40 minutes to mature.
- 6
Step 6
By this time, you'll have time to prepare the enriched mixture. Carefully separate the yolks from four eggs. We'll need only the yolks.
- 7
Step 7
Place the yolks in a bowl and add all the remaining sugar. Mix everything with a whisk.
- 8
Step 8
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, cool slightly, then pour into the egg mixture and blend with a whisk. The enriched mixture is ready.
- 9
Step 9
By this time, the sponge has matured and has greatly increased in volume.
- 10
Step 10
Add the enriched mixture to the sponge. Stir everything with a spoon.
- 11
Step 11
Start sifting the flour in parts. First mix the flour with a spoon, then begin kneading the dough by hand.
- 12
Step 12
As a result, you should have a soft, non-dense dough that does not stick to your hands.
- 13
Step 13
Add the previously washed raisins and candied fruits to the dough.
- 14
Step 14
Incorporate them into the dough. Shape the dough into a ball in the bowl and let it rise for 1.5–2 hours. During this time, perform 1–2 punch-downs.
- 15
Step 15
The dough has risen — it has doubled in volume.
- 16
Step 16
Divide the entire dough mass into three equal parts. Roll each part into a ball and place it into the bottom of a paper Easter bread mold. Brush the surface of the future Easter breads with a mixture of yolk and 1 teaspoon of water, and let them rest in the molds for another 15 minutes.
- 17
Step 17
Then place the kuliches in a preheated oven at 180 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- 18
Step 18
I used store-bought glaze, which I prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions on the package. If you prefer, you can use your favorite glaze recipe and make it yourself.
- 19
Step 19
Cover the finished Easter breads with icing.
- 20
Step 20
Happy Easter!