Easter Bread

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or two envelopes)
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 3 cups milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
• 7 -8 cups flour
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 16 cardamom pods, crushed (about 2 teaspoons)
• 1 orange, rind of, grated
• 1 lemon, rind of, grated
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds (optional)
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 4 tablespoons water
• 2 -3 drops almond extract

Recipe

• 1 disolve yeast in warm water.
• 2 add 2 cups of the milk to the yeast/water.
• 3 sift in 2 cups of the flour.
• 4 beat until smooth and elastic with a wooden spoon or beaters.
• 5 cover and let rise for one hour.
• 6 beat egg yolks and sugar together until light.
• 7 add egg/sugar to dough, stirring well with wooden spoon.
• 8 add the salt, cardamom, orange and lemon peel, raisins and almonds (if using), stir well.
• 9 add the remaining milk (1 cup) and butter.
• 10 stir in the remaining flour until a stiff dough forms.
• 11 turn onto a floured bread board and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes).
• 12 place dough in greased bowl (i use a dutch oven), turn and cover with plastic wrap.
• 13 let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
• 14 grease 3 (1 pound) coffee cans and dust with sugar.
• 15 fill cans half full and let rise until dough is even with top of can (30 minutes).
• 16 bake in a preheated 350°foven for 1 hour or until bread is golden and tests done.
• 17 if desired, loaves can be iced with optional frosting.
• 18 to make optional frosting, combine frosting ingredients (confectioners' sugar, water and almond extract).
• 19 drizzle over cooled loaves.