Ukrainian Easter Paska Recipe 🇺🇦🐣
Overview:
Ukrainian Easter Paska is a traditional round-shaped Easter bread, exquisitely rich in flavor and texture, far surpassing the ordinary bread varieties. Its significance goes beyond culinary delight; it’s a symbol of Easter festivities, adorned with intricate dough ornaments, with a central motif typically being a cross. This bread holds a special place in Ukrainian Easter traditions, as it is taken to church in a beautifully decorated basket along with other Easter foods, to be blessed by the priest amidst the resonating choir hymns proclaiming “Christ is risen.”
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 2 packets | Active dry yeast |
| 1 tablespoon | Sugar |
| 4 cups | All-purpose flour (for the sponge) |
| 1/4 cup | Warm water (100° to 110°) |
| 12 cups | All-purpose flour |
| 2 cups | Milk |
| 3 large | Eggs |
| 8 large | Egg yolks |
| 3/4 cup | Sugar |
| 2 teaspoons | Salt |
| 1 teaspoon | Pure vanilla extract |
| 1 lemon | Zest of |
| 1 orange | Zest of |
| 1 tablespoon | Rum or brandy |
| 1 cup | Unsalted butter, melted |
| 2/3 cup | Vegetable oil |
| 3 large | Egg whites (for brushing) |
| 1 tablespoon | Water (for glaze) |
Instructions:
-
Prepare Yeast Mixture:
- In a medium bowl, combine the yeast, 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/4 cup of warm water (100° to 110°).
- Mix until smooth and let it sit until the mixture becomes bubbly, around 10 to 15 minutes.
-
-
Make the Sponge:
- Add 4 cups of flour and milk to the yeast mixture.
- Mix well with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to rise at room temperature until double in size, about 30 minutes.
-
Prepare Dough:
- In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat 3 eggs, 8 egg yolks, and sugar until light and pale yellow, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add the sponge mixture to the beaten eggs and sugar.
- Incorporate salt, vanilla extract, lemon zest, orange zest, rum or brandy, melted butter, and vegetable oil.
- Whisk on medium speed until all ingredients are well combined.
-
Knead and Rise:
- Switch to the dough hook attachment on the mixer and gradually add enough of the remaining 8 cups of flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a large bowl, cover with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot away from drafts until double in size, approximately 1 to 2 hours.
-
Shape and Decorate:
- After the dough has doubled in size, set aside one-third of the dough in a separate bowl, covered with plastic wrap for decorations.
- Divide the remaining two-thirds of the dough evenly between two buttered 9-inch saucepans.
- Allow the dough in the saucepans and the reserved dough to rise for about 30 minutes.
- Shape the reserved dough into desired motifs (crosses, rosettes, birds, etc.) on a clean work surface, keeping unused dough covered to prevent drying.
-
Attach Decorative Motifs:
- Brush the surface of the risen dough in the saucepans with lightly beaten egg whites.
- Attach the decorative dough ornaments using toothpicks to secure them to the loaves.
- Allow the dough to rise until it almost reaches the top of the pans, approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
-
Glaze and Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 3 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon of water for the glaze.
- Brush the egg mixture onto the surface of the loaves.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C) and bake for an additional 50 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
-
Cool and Serve:
- Allow the Paska to cool in the pans for 30 minutes.
- Carefully remove the Paska from the pans and transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy your Ukrainian Easter Paska with loved ones during Easter celebrations!
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 4618.4
- Fat: 150.7g
- Saturated Fat: 54.2g
- Cholesterol: 1629.9mg
- Sodium: 684.3mg
- Carbohydrates: 670.4g
- Fiber: 24.1g
- Sugar: 76.8g
- Protein: 122.9g
Yield:
- Makes two 9-inch round loaves.
Celebrate Easter with this exquisite Ukrainian Easter Paska, rich in tradition and flavor, a true centerpiece for your festive table!
