Easter Bread from Ukraine

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp dry yeast
• 125 ml warm water
• 400 g sugar
• 6 Eggs
• 175 g margarine
• 1 orange zest
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 250 ml Whipping Cream
• 2 kg flour
• 1 tbsp margarine
• 200 g powdered sugar
• 50 ml hot milk (1.5% fat)
• 500 g dry cottage cheese or quark
• 2 egg yolks (or 1 whole egg)
• 125 g margarine
• 6 tbsp sugar
• vanilla

Instructions

1. 1.

   Mix yeast and water and set aside. In a large bowl whisk sugar and eggs, then add the yeast mixture, margarine, orange zest and vanilla. Finally alternate adding cream and flour while mixing.

2. 2.

   Knead dough on a floured board until smooth and elastic. Shape loaves and place in well-greased tins. The dough should fill only 1/3 of the tin as it will rise further during baking. Let proof for 5 hours.

3. 3.

   Bake at 160°C for 50-60 minutes. To remove loaves from tins, run a knife around the edges, flip the tin and gently shake out the breads.

4. 4.

   Mix glaze ingredients. While loaves cool, brush them with a pastry brush. Decorate the surface with colorful sprinkles or small sugar eggs.

5. 5.

   For the spread, press cheese and egg through a coarse sieve, or blend in a mixer, or whisk vigorously with a whisk. Beat margarine and sugar until fluffy and add; finally stir in vanilla.

6. 6.

   Stir until the mixture is spreadable, add skimmed cream if too dry. Serve on Paska slices.