Pascha Bread Recipe for a Blessed Easter
Elaine Atherholt |
PC: Leslie AtherholtPascha (translated as “Passover”) is what Orthodox Christians call the celebration of Easter because Christ is the new Passover Lamb. Because of the rich history of the Orthodox Church, there are lots of traditions that surround the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Among these traditions is making Pascha bread, an enriched bread that includes some of the food items given up during the prescribed fast that precedes the Paschal season.
Orthodox Lent prescribes fasting from meat, cheeses, and other animal products, including eggs, so when we finally reach the celebration of the Resurrection, we celebrate with a feast where everyone brings a Pascha basket filled with meat dishes, cheeses, and Pascha bread to share. Pascha bread is also often decorated with braids and crosses and, though there isn’t a lot of symbolism surrounding the bread itself, its rounded and domed shape often resembles the church’s architectural dome, so it’s fitting to put a cross on top.
PC: ENR.com
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35
Even if you’re not Orthodox, you can bake Pascha bread to include in your Easter celebration and share with loved ones, neighbors, and friends.
Ingredients
- 5 lb. Bread Flour
- 1 quart milk
- 1 cup sugar + 1 teaspoon (set aside teaspoon for yeast mixture)
- 3 sticks butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 4 eggs beaten
- 3 packages of rapid rise yeast
- Candies or red eggs for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Scald the milk, sugar, butter, and salt in a saucepan on the stovetop. Mix the ingredients together and heat, stirring frequently, until bubbles start to form around the edges. Heat until the temperature reaches 180 degrees. Do not boil.
- Let the scalded milk mixture cool to 110 degrees.
- While the milk mixture is cooling, add the rapid rise yeast to the 1/2 cup of hot (100-110 degree) water and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir well, cover with a clean tea towel, and let it activate for 5 minutes.
- Combine milk mixture, eggs, and yeast mixture together.
- In a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, combine half the flour and half the liquid ingredients and mix until it comes together. Repeat with the other half of the flour and last half of liquid ingredients.
- Kneed all of the bread mixture together until smooth. It may be a bit wet and elastic. Add small amounts of flour if needed.
- Grease a large bowl and place the dough inside to let it rise (about 2 hours).
- Punch down the dough and divide into however many loaves you’d like to make, being sure to set some dough aside to use for braids and cross decorations.
- Once the loaves are shaped, place them into pans or oven-safe bowls, add the cross and braid décor, and let rise for 45-60 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Brush the loaves with a beaten egg and bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 190 degrees.
- Remove and let cool. Add candies and eggs if you’re using those as decoration.
Pascha Bread
- Yield: 2 Large Loaves 1x
Description
This Pascha Bread recipe is an Orthodox Christian tradition but can be enjoyed by all Christians as part of their Easter celebrations. With eggs, butter, sugar, and milk it is an enriched bread that is the perfect mix of sweet and savory making it perfect for toast, sandwiches, French toast, and more!
Ingredients
- 5 lb. Bread Flour
- 1 quart milk
- 1 cup sugar + 1 teaspoon (set aside teaspoon for yeast mixture)
- 3 sticks butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 4 eggs beaten
- 3 packages of rapid rise yeast
- Candies or red eggs for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Scald the milk, sugar, butter, and salt in a saucepan on the stovetop. Mix the ingredients together and heat, stirring frequently, until bubbles start to form around the edges. Heat until the temperature reaches 180 degrees. Do not boil.
- Let the scalded milk mixture cool to 110 degrees.
- While the milk mixture is cooling, add the rapid rise yeast to the 1/2 cup of hot (100-110 degree) water and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir well, cover with a clean tea towel, and let it activate for 5 minutes.
- Combine milk mixture, eggs, and yeast mixture together.
- In a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, combine half the flour and half the liquid ingredients and mix until it comes together. Repeat with the other half of the flour and last half of liquid ingredients.
- Kneed all of the bread mixture together until smooth. It may be a bit wet and elastic. Add small amounts of flour if needed.
- Grease a large bowl and place the dough inside to let it rise (about 2 hours).
- Punch down the dough and divide into however many loaves you’d like to make, being sure to set some dough aside to use for braids and cross decorations.
- Once the loaves are shaped, place them into pans or oven-safe bowls, add the cross and braid décor, and let rise for 45-60 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Brush the loaves with a beaten egg and bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 190 degrees.
- Remove and let cool. Add candies and eggs if you’re using those as decoration.
Notes
This bread can be decorated however you like. You can add red eggs and candies, or even bake raisins into the bread itself. Some traditions even make a Royal icing to drizzle on top.
Remember to save pieces of the dough to use to create braids and crosses as decorations. Some dough can also be set aside for kids to make their own mini loaves!
When adding the crosses and braids, be sure to pinch the loaf and decorations together in certain spots so that they stick. It also helps to let the decorations and loaves prove together so that the decorations do not fall off.
Keywords: pascha, bread, bread recipe, orthodox easter
