ukrainian easter paska

How To Make ukrainian easter paska

• Step 1
  Dissolve sugar in lukewarm water and sprinkle yeast over it. Let it stand for 10 minutes.
• Step 2
  Combine softened yeast with lukewarm milk, honey, and 5 cups of flour. Beat until smooth.
• Step 3
  Cover and let the batter rise in a warm place until light and bubbly. Room temperature should be 65-75 degrees. Having a warm room helps the dough to rise better.
• Step 4
  Add beaten eggs, sugar, melted butter, and salt; mix thoroughly. Stir in enough flour to make a dough that is neither too soft nor too stiff. Knead until the dough no longer sticks to your hands.
• Step 5
  Turn the dough onto a floured board and knead until smooth and satiny.
• Step 6
  Place in a bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 1/2 hours).
• Step 7
  Punch down and let rise again (about 1 hour).
• Step 8
  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Divide the dough into 3 parts. Place in buttered coffee cans, Paska baking wrappers, or a round pan. Let it rise until doubled in size. If using coffee cans, let it rise just to the rim. You don't want it to go over the rim; it will crack or burst while baking. Brush the tops of the loaves with a beaten egg and 2 Tbsp of water.
• Step 9
  Place in 400 degree F preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 40 minutes longer or until done.
• Step 10
  Avoid browning the top too deeply. Cover with aluminum foil if necessary.
• Step 11
  Remove loaves from the pan and allow to cool completely. When using coffee cans, the first slice off the bottom should be kept to put at the bottom so the Paska will not dry out. Place Paska in sealable plastic bags after they have cooled. They stay fresher that way.
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