Russian Easter Bread
Russian Easter bread or kulich is a sweet, yeast bread with raisins, almonds, and candied orange peel. Along with paskha, it is an Easter tradition.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 16 persons
Ingredients
- For the Yeast Sponge:
- 2 ¼teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼cup water (warm)
- ¼cup white sugar
- ½cup milk (scalded, cooled to 110 F)
- 1cup all-purpose flour
- For the Dough:
- 4ounces unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½cup white sugar
- 8large egg yolks (room temperature; reserve 2 egg whites)
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2teaspoons cardamom
- ½teaspoon salt
- 3to 3 1/2 all-purpose cups flour
- ⅓cup golden raisins
- ¼cup almonds (slivered)
- ¼cup candied orange rind (chopped)
- For the Glaze:
- 1cup confectioners' sugar
- 2teaspoons lemon juice
- ⅛teaspoon almond extract
- 2to 3 teaspoons water (warm)
- Optional: Sprinkles (for topping)