italian easter bread
 
Ingredients
  • Bread
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 package dry yeast
  • 2-1/2 cups unbleached flour, divided
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • Vegetable oil
  • 5 uncooked eggs colored with Easter-egg dye
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Icing
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 2 -3 tablespoons milk
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or fresh lemon juice
  • colored sprinkles, for decoration
Instructions
  1. To Make the Bread
  2. In a large mixing bowl, blend the sugar, salt, and yeast and 1 cup of flour; stir well.
  3. In a small saucepan, combine milk and butter, heating slowly until the milk is warm and the butter is melted.  Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture, stirring constantly.  Add the two eggs and ½ cup flour and beat well.  Add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.  When the dough draws away from the bowl, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.  If the dough is sticky, add more flour in small amounts.  Lightly oil a large bowl, and place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat with the oil.  Cover with a damp cloth and place in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
  4. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured board. Divide the dough in half.  Carefully roll each piece into a 24-inch rope.  Loosely braid the two ropes together and form it into a ring on a greased baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to seal.  Gently open the braid slightly to make a place for each colored egg. Carefully push the eggs down into the dough as far as possible. Cover the bread with waxed paper and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until double in bulk, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  5. Beat water and egg together and gently brush the mixture over the dough with a pastry brush.  Bake the bread in a preheated 350 degrees oven for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean. Place onto a wire rack to cool. Once the bread is cool, drizzle the icing on top between the eggs, and decorate with colored sprinkles.
  6. To Make the Icing
  7. Combine sugar, milk and vanilla in a medium bowl and mix well.
Recipe by Food and Friendship at https://www.foodandfriendshipsantabarbara.com/2012/04/02/matzo-balls-and-easter-bunnies/