Gaby
Baking round bread goes back to pagan times: for the ancient Slavs, the circle symbolized the sun and anchored spring celebrations. When Christianity arrived, the custom took on religious meaning—Easter bread came to represent the Resurrection of Christ, and its round shape suggested eternity. People traditionally bring Easter bread to church to be blessed. On Holy Saturday, prepared breads and other festive dishes are taken to church for blessing, and after the morning service celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, families break the fast with the blessed breads and ritual eggs. Many believe the first piece of Easter bread eaten on Easter Sunday brings good luck. Sharing Easter bread with family and friends is encouraged, since the loaf symbolizes love and unity.
Ingredients for the dough: flour – 500 g; milk – 100 ml; eggs – 2; butter – 100 g; sour cream (25%) – 100 g; sugar – 200 g; yeast – 25 g; raisins – 60 g; candied fruit or cranberries – 70 g; vegetable oil – 3 tablespoons; turmeric – 1/2 teaspoon; salt – 1/2 teaspoon.
Ingredients for the glaze: gelatin – 1/2 teaspoon; lemon juice – 1/2 teaspoon; powdered sugar – 100 g.
Preparing the Dough Starter
Dissolve the yeast in warm milk, add a tablespoon of sugar, and mix well.
Add 3 tablespoons of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Beat the eggs with sugar, salt, and vanilla until frothy. Add the softened butter, sour cream, and turmeric. Mix everything thoroughly, then combine it with the yeast mixture and stir again.
Add the liquid ingredients to the flour and mix until the flour is fully absorbed. Knead the dough by hand on a floured surface. Drizzle the dough with vegetable oil and continue kneading. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and set it in a warm place.
Preparing for Baking
Once the dough has doubled in size, stretch it out into a flat layer, add the raisins, candied fruit, and cranberries, and knead again.
Divide the dough into molds and leave it in a draft-free area until it rises again. In total, the dough will need about 40 minutes to rise.
Baking and Decorating
Place the molds in an oven preheated to 180°C (350°F) and bake the breads until done. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick or matchstick into the dough; it should come out dry.
To prepare the glaze for the top of the breads, dissolve the dry gelatin (from a packet) in 1 tablespoon of water and let it swell.
Mix the swollen gelatin with 1 tablespoon of sugar, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of water. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring until it comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and drizzle the sweet-tart lemon syrup over the breads.
Life Hack
At room temperature, Easter bread can be stored for 3–4 days (avoid direct sunlight and drafts). To extend freshness, wrap the bread in a towel or in parchment paper and store it in a cool place—not the refrigerator, which speeds staling.
Freeze the bread to extend shelf life. Let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
