Aromatic Easter Bread

Aromatic Easter Bread - Traditional Recipe for Easter Meal

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Number of servings: 12

Aromatic Easter bread is a delicious and symbolic dessert, perfect for the Easter meal. This traditional dish not only brings a wonderful taste but also a festive atmosphere around the table. Here’s how you can prepare this simple and quick recipe, step by step.

Ingredients for the dough:
- 500 g of high-quality flour
- 200 ml sour cream (choose a fatty sour cream for a richer texture)
- 4 egg yolks
- 100 g butter (at room temperature for easy mixing)
- 1 packet of dry yeast
- Zest of one orange (for flavor)
- Zest of one lemon
- Rum essence (optional, but recommended for a distinct taste)
- 170 g sugar
- 2 packets of vanilla sugar

Ingredients for the filling:
- 1 kg of well-drained cottage cheese (to avoid a too wet mixture)
- 200 ml sour cream
- 6 eggs
- 100 g semolina
- 300 g sugar
- 300 g mixed raisins (pre-soaked in cognac for added flavor)
- Orange zest
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 1 egg yolk for brushing

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Preparing the dough: Start by beating the butter with a mixer until creamy. Add the sour cream and egg yolks mixed separately with vanilla sugar, essences, and orange zest. Mix well.

2. Incorporating the flour: Gradually add the flour and dry yeast, mixing with a spatula or by hand until you get a homogeneous dough. If it is too sticky, you can add a little more flour.

3. Rising the dough: Form a ball from the dough, cover it with a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about an hour until it doubles in volume.

4. Preparing the filling: Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Mix the cottage cheese with sour cream and eggs using a mixer until you get a creamy composition. Add the semolina, sugar, raisins, orange zest, and vanilla sugar, mixing gently with a wooden spoon. If you want a finer filling, you can pass the cheese through a sieve.

5. Assembling the Easter bread: Choose a cake pan lined with parchment paper. Set aside one-third of the dough to create a braided string, and roll out the rest into a thin sheet. Place the sheet in the pan, covering the bottom and sides.

6. Filling and decorating: Pour the cheese filling into the pan and shape the dough string on top. Brush the dough with egg yolk for a golden crust.

7. Baking: Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake the Easter bread for about 50 minutes until golden brown and the edges are firm. You can check if it is baked by doing the toothpick test.

8. Cooling and serving: Let the Easter bread cool completely before cutting it into slices. Serve it plain or with a drizzle of sour cream on top for added flavor.

Suggestions and variations: You can experiment with different types of cheese, such as ricotta or mascarpone, for a different texture. You can also add candied fruits or nuts for an even richer taste.

This aromatic Easter bread will not only impress your guests but will also bring a touch of tradition to your Easter table. Try making it and enjoy the moments spent with your loved ones!