Ukrainian Easter Paska
- Ready In:
- 1hr 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 20
- Yields:
-
2 paska's
ingredients
- 2 (4 1/2 teaspoon) envelopes active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1⁄4 cup warm water
- 12 cups sifted all-purpose flour (you might need less)
- 2 cups milk, warm (100° to 110°)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 8 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 2⁄3 cup sugar
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 lemon, zest of
- 1 orange, zest of
- 3 tablespoons rum or 3 tablespoons brandy
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted,plus more for pans
- 1⁄2 cup vegetable oil or 1/2 cup sunflower oil
-
FOR BRUSHING TOPS OF PASKA
- 3 large eggs, separated
- egg white, for brushing under motifs
- egg yolk, plus
- 1 tablespoon water, for brushing tops of paska
directions
- In a medium bowl combine yeast, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 warm water (100° to 110°).
- Mix until smooth.
- Set bowl aside until mixture is bubbly, 10 to 15 minutes.
- FOR THE SPONGE: Add 4 cups of the flour and milk to yeast mixture.
- With a wooden spoon, mix until well combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature until double in size, about 30 minutes.
- 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, about 5 minutes.
- Add the SPONGE mixture.
- Add salt, vanilla extract, lemon zest, orange zest, rum or brandy, melted butter, and vegetable oil.
- Whisk on medium speed until combined.
- Remove whisk attachment from machine, and fit with the dough hook attachment.
- With mixer on medium-low speed, gradually add enough of the remaining 8 cups flour until dough comes away from side of bowl.
- Transfer dough to a clean work surface.
- Knead dough, adding any remaining flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer dough to a large bowl, and cover with a cloth or plastic wrap.
- Place in a warm spot away from drafts, and let it rise until double in size, 1 to 2 hours.
- {Ihad no dough hook so I used wooden spoon and then my hands,{mix well at least 15 min.
- by hand} Place rack in lower two-thirds of oven, and heat to 350°.
- Butter two 9-inch saucepans.
- Cut a piece of waxed paper{I use parchment paper} about 2 inches longer than the circumference of the saucepan.
- Fold this in half lengthwise to make a double thickness.
- Place inside the saucepan, patting it to adhere to the butter.
- The collar should extend 3 to 4 inches above the rim of the saucepan.
- Seal the 2-inch flap with more butter.
- {Butterwaxed paper or parchment too}[I like to cut out circles and put on the bottom off pan, paska comes out easier] When dough has doubled in bulk, punch down, and set aside one-third of dough in a medium bowl covered with plastic wrap for decorations.
- Divide remaining two-thirds dough evenly between saucepans.
- Place bowl and saucepans of dough in a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, on a clean work surface, shape reserved dough into desired motifs—solar, crosses, rosettes, birds, braids, scrolls, etc.
- Keep any dough that is not being used covered with plastic to prevent it from drying out.
- TO ATTACH MOTIFS: Brush surface of risen dough in saucepans with 3 lightly beaten egg whites.
- Attach decorative dough ornaments, using a toothpicks to secure motifs to loaves and leave them on until paska is baked and then gently remove toothpicks.
- Keep in a warm place to rise until it reaches almost the top of pans, 20 to 30 minutes.
- FOR THE GLAZE: In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 3 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon water.
- Brush egg mixture on surface of loaves.
- Bake 350 F.
- for 10 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 325°, and bake for an additional 50 minutes.
- Cool paska in pans for 30 minutes.
- When paska has cooled but is still warm, gently remove from pans, and transfer to a rack to cool.
- Makes two 9-inch round loaves.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Olha7397
Canada