Paska

Paska is a Ukrainian Easter bread. I have several nephews that were adopted as young children from Ukraine, so I made this in honor of my sweet nephews. You can order the beautiful paper baking pots from Amazon. That is where I found them. This is a 7 ounce size and baked beautifully.

This bread is a delicious bread you will love! It is not hard to make, I hope you try it!

• 2 cups lukewarm milk
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast
• 6 cups flour
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups dried fruits, I used cherries and chopped dates (place these in a bowl with warm water to cover, let sit for 15 minutes, then drain well and set aside)
• powdered sugar, milk or water, dash of vanilla, sprinkles

Place the warm milk, yeast and 2 cups of flour in your mixer bowl. Combine well, then cover with a kitchen towel and let it sit for 30 minutes.

While that dough is resting, whip up your eggs whites to a slightly stiff peak. Now combine the yolks with the sugar and whisk them with a fork. Set them aside.

When the 30 minutes is past, add the rest of the flour, your egg yolk/sugar mixture and the egg whites. Use your dough hook and mix them till a dough forms and becomes smooth and elastic. The dough will be a bit sticky at the end.

Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel and let rise for 30 minutes.

Now add your fruit mixture. Blend well. Now cover the dough again with your towel and let rise 30 minutes more.

Now divide your dough into 7 portions and place it into your 7 paper molds , only fill half way up. ( When you divide your dough into 7 pieces, you will have the right amount for each paper baking pot.)

Once you have divided the dough, cover with your towel and let them rise 30 minutes more.

Now heat your oven to 350* while the bread is rising.

Now place the Paskas into the oven,

bake 25-30 minutes.

Let cool on a rack, make your glaze if using.

Take about 2 cups powdered sugar into a small bowl. Add some vanilla (about a 1/2 teaspoon) Now add milk or water, 1 Tablespoon at a time till you get the consistency you want. Now spoon some over each Paska, then sprinkle them.

Glaze the Paskas, sprinkle if desired.

Now you are ready to slice and enjoy!