CHEF JOHN'S EASTER BREAD
If you were lucky enough to grow up in an Italian-American home, there's a good chance you got to enjoy the smell of freshly baked Easter bread, with its unmistakable anisette aroma filling the air. This loaf of Easter bread is one of my favorite holiday traditions, and an authentic family heirloom recipe; made the same way as my mother, and her mother, and her mother's mother made it. I hope you give this a try, and remember, it's never too late to start an old family tradition. Frost with pink icing and top with sprinkles!
Provided by Chef John
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Egg
Time 15h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water in a large bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 10 minutes.
- Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, eggs, oil, anise extract, lemon zest, lemon extract, salt, and anise seed together in a bowl.
- Pour egg mixture, melted butter, and milk into yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add 4 cups flour, 1 cup at time, stirring after each addition.
- Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding remaining 1/2 cup flour as necessary, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Coat a large bowl with oil. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat. Place a damp cloth over the bowl, place bowl in the oven with the oven light on, and let rise until doubled in size, 12 hours or overnight.
- Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Punch dough down and divide into four equal portions. Divide each portion into three ropes. Braid each set of three dough ropes to form four small braided loaves. Transfer loaves to prepared baking sheets, 2 per sheet, and let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bake bread in the preheated oven until the tops are golden and the bottom of the loaves sound hollow when tapped, 20 to 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 325 calories, Carbohydrate 49.3 g, Cholesterol 77.7 mg, Fat 10.3 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 7.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 310.1 mg, Sugar 13.2 g
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luwin boy
b-luwin17@gmail.comThis is the best Easter bread I've ever had. It's so soft and fluffy, and the glaze is the perfect finishing touch.
Anthony Boggs
a@hotmail.comI've made this bread several times now and it's always a hit. It's the perfect Easter bread recipe.
samson chitalu
chitalu@hotmail.comThis bread is a bit time-consuming to make, but it's totally worth it. It's so delicious and perfect for a special occasion.
Kristina Arnold
akristina55@yahoo.comChef John's Easter Bread is a masterpiece! It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory. I highly recommend it.
Elisha michael
em64@aol.comThis bread is a showstopper! It's so beautiful and delicious. I can't wait to make it again for my next party.
William Gainey
g.william59@yahoo.comI'm not much of a baker, but this recipe was easy to follow and the bread turned out great! It's the perfect addition to any Easter brunch.
Lazar Milošević
m@yahoo.comI've never been a huge fan of Easter bread, but this recipe changed my mind. It's so flavorful and moist. I'll definitely be making this again.
Abdullateef Abdulyekeen
abdulyekeen_abdullateef74@hotmail.comThis bread is delicious! It's perfect for Easter or any other special occasion. I highly recommend it.
Gwen Escatiole
gescatiole@aol.comChef John's Easter Bread is a must-try! It's so easy to make and it tastes amazing. I've already made it twice and I'm sure I'll be making it again soon.
Sajad mahmood
ms65@gmail.comI made this bread for Easter brunch and it was a hit! Everyone loved it. It's definitely a new family favorite.
derrick cummings
d50@hotmail.comThis bread is heavenly! It's so light and fluffy, and the glaze is the perfect finishing touch. I'm so glad I tried this recipe.
Kim Makoye
makoye-kim@hotmail.comChef John's Easter Bread is a winner! My family loved it. It's a keeper recipe for sure.
Ivonia Heaven
i-h@gmail.comThis is the best Easter bread I've ever had! It's so flavorful and moist. I will definitely be making this again and again.
Aree Hernandez
a.hernandez@hotmail.comI was a bit hesitant to try this recipe because I'm not a very experienced baker, but it turned out great! The instructions were easy to follow and the bread came out perfect.
Sasheena Samuels
sasheena@aol.comThis Easter bread is amazing! It's so soft and fluffy, and the glaze gives it a perfect touch of sweetness. I'll definitely be making this again.
Shah Khan official
k-shah44@hotmail.comChef John's Easter Bread is an absolute delight! The fluffy texture and sweet flavor are perfect for any occasion. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out beautifully. Highly recommend!