Paska Slovak Easter Bread

Name: Paska Slovak Easter Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Yield: 1 bread
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups all purpose flour; ½ cup lukewarm milk; 1 egg; 1 Tablespoon warm water; 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ tick unsalted butter; 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar; ½ egg

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5.0

6 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Additional Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 10 mins
Servings
1 bread
Calories
1870 kcal
Course
Bread

Paska Slovak Easter Bread

Nora Tran

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While Czechs bake sweet mazanec bread at Easter, our neighbors in Slovakia prepare their soft and fluffy paska bread. Traditional paska bread is made from yeast dough, has a slightly sugary taste, and is topped with braids laid in the shape of a cross, referring to Christian symbolism.

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Ingredients

Servings

2 ½ cups all purpose flour
½ cup lukewarm milk
1 egg
1 Tablespoon warm water
1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
½ teaspoon salt
½ tick unsalted butter softened at room temperature
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

For egg wash

½ egg

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Instructions

Combine 2 ½ cups all purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt in a large bowl.
Pour in ½ cup lukewarm milk (not hot!) and 1 Tablespoon warm water, crack in 1 egg, and add pieces of softened ½ stick unsalted butter.
Process the mixture into a smooth, soft dough. Start by roughly mixing the ingredients in the bowl with a wooden spoon. Then, turn the mixture onto a floured surface, keeping a small handful of flour nearby. Begin kneading the dough with your hands, and if it sticks, dip it into the prepared flour. Continue kneading until the dough is no longer sticky and becomes beautifully elastic.
Return the smooth ball of dough to the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Place the bowl of dough in a warm spot to rise for an hour until the volume doubles. Halfway through the rising time, knead the dough briefly to support further leavening.
Prepare the pan in which you will bake the paska bread. I used a small 8-inch springform pan. Lightly grease the pan with butter and line the bottom and sides with baking paper. The butter helps the paper stick to the sides of the pan and hold nicely.
From the risen bread dough, separate a portion about the size of an egg. Divide this dough into four pieces and roll each piece into a thin strand. Twist two strands together to make a simple braid, and repeat with the remaining two strands.
Shape the remaining dough into a loaf and place it, seam side down, in the lined pan. Arrange the prepared braids over the loaf in the shape of a cross, tucking their ends slightly between the loaf and the sides of the pan.
Cover the prepared paska bread with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
Make an egg wash by whisking ½ egg with a fork. Brush the entire surface of the bread, including the braids, with the egg wash.
Preheat the oven to 370 °F. Transfer the Paska bread to a center wire rack, close the oven door, and bake for about 25-30 minutes, depending on its size.

Notes

SERVING:
The basic recipe makes 1 piece of 8-inches Paska bread.
SERVING: Paska bread is traditionally served on Easter morning. Arrange boiled eggs, smoked meat, slices of ham, and sausages (klobasa or kielbasa) on the table. Slice the Paska and enjoy it with all these delicious accompaniments.
Special tip: Use metal dog bowls for baking. They have a conical shape and the bread can be easily removed from them. You can even buy bowls in various sizes for those who want to make breads of different sizes. It might seem a little odd, but it really works!
Instead of lining the pan with baking paper, only grease it with butter. If the pan is not too tall and has a conical shape (wider at the top than at the bottom), the bread will be easy to remove after baking.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 1870kcal (94%) Carbohydrates 276g (92%) Protein 53g (106%) Fat 61g (94%) Saturated Fat 34g (170%) Polyunsaturated Fat 5g Monounsaturated Fat 16g Trans Fat 2g Cholesterol 404mg (135%) Sodium 1334mg (56%) Potassium 803mg (23%) Fiber 13g (52%) Sugar 31g (62%) Vitamin A 1998IU (40%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 258mg (26%) Iron 16mg (89%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1bread

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1870 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	1870kcal	94%
Carbohydrates	276g	92%
Protein	53g	106%
Fat	61g	94%
Saturated Fat	34g	170%
Polyunsaturated Fat	5g	29%
Monounsaturated Fat	16g	80%
Trans Fat	2g	100%
Cholesterol	404mg	135%
Sodium	1334mg	56%
Potassium	803mg	17%
Fiber	13g	52%
Sugar	31g	62%
Vitamin A	1998IU	40%
Vitamin C	1mg	1%
Calcium	258mg	26%
Iron	16mg	89%