PASCA - ROMANIAN EASTER BREAD

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Pasca - Romanian Easter Bread image

Pasca (sometimes called paska or Easter Bread) is a traditional eastern Europe yeast bread that is soft and sweet. In Romania this bread is special because it has cheese cake center. My Romanian friend first made it for me with just the cheese cake middle with no bread, and it was wonderful, but I wanted to try this more traditional style with a braided bread circle.

Provided by HeathersCookin

Categories     Cheesecake

Time 4h30m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 cup bread flour
1 cup milk, lukewarm
2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 cup bread flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup grapeseed oil or 1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon milk, if dough is too dry
1 cup ricotta cheese or 1 cup farmer cheese
2 eggs
1/3 cup sugar, powdered if available
3 drops lemon extract or 3 drops rum extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest, optionally
1/2 cup raisins
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon water

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!

victor onoriode
[email protected]

This was my first time making Pasca bread, and I'm so glad I tried this recipe. The bread was amazing! It was light, fluffy, and flavorful, and the glaze was the perfect finishing touch. I'll definitely be making this again.


DWAYNE REID
[email protected]

This Pasca bread is absolutely delicious. The orange zest and lemon zest add a lovely citrus flavor that really brightens it up. I highly recommend this recipe.


Dimi v
[email protected]

I love this Pasca bread recipe. It's so easy to follow, and the bread always turns out perfect. I've made it for Easter brunch for the past three years, and it's always a hit.


Alison Carvajal
[email protected]

This is the best Pasca bread I've ever had. It's so moist and flavorful, and the glaze is the perfect finishing touch. I'll definitely be making this again.


Tumi Mokoena
[email protected]

I made this Pasca bread for a potluck, and it was a huge hit. Everyone was raving about it. The bread was light, fluffy, and flavorful, and the glaze added a nice touch of sweetness.


Reshika Raut
[email protected]

This Pasca bread is a must-try for any bread lover. It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and the texture is amazing. I highly recommend it.


Muhammad Kamran
[email protected]

I've been looking for a good Pasca bread recipe for a while now, and I'm so glad I found this one. The bread was everything I was hoping for and more. It was moist, fluffy, and flavorful, and the glaze was the perfect finishing touch.


ridoy2002 rk
[email protected]

I'm not a baker, but I was able to make this Pasca bread without any problems. The instructions were easy to follow, and the bread turned out great.


MR Gaming
[email protected]

I made this Pasca bread for Easter brunch, and it was a huge success. Everyone loved it! The bread was light, fluffy, and flavorful, and the glaze added a nice touch of sweetness.


Augustus Fiscus
[email protected]

This Pasca bread was a bit more work than I expected, but it was totally worth it. The bread was absolutely delicious, and it was a big hit with my family and friends.


Lucy Jane
[email protected]

I've made Pasca bread many times before, but this recipe is definitely my favorite. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the bread turned out perfect.


Suresh Kumar
[email protected]

This was my first time making Pasca bread, and it turned out beautifully. I was so pleased with the results. The bread was moist and flavorful, and the glaze gave it a nice shiny crust.


Ally Tiktok
[email protected]

I'm not usually a fan of sweet breads, but this Pasca was amazing. The orange zest and lemon zest added a lovely citrus flavor that really brightened it up.


Tsegaye Bira
[email protected]

This Pasca bread was a hit! It had the perfect balance of sweetness and tang, and the texture was so light and fluffy. I'll definitely be making this again for Easter.