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Romanian Easter Bread - Pasca

Romanian Easter Bread or Easter Cake, which is translated Pasca, is a traditional dessert eaten on Easter Day. It's usually made with cow's cheese filling and sultanas or raisins, and it's absolutely delicious. Serve it with a red egg on top for the ultimate easter dessert. This pasca is the Romanian version of a cheesecake, but a lot richer, and so easy to make.

Prep Time
2 hrs 20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
3 hrs
Servings: 1 bread
Calories: 2755 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Romanian

Ingredients

to make the dough:
  • 300 g Strong white bread flour
  • 150 ml milk
  • 40 g caster sugar
  • 75 g butter
  • 1 teaspoon dried yeast
  • 1 egg yolk
  • zest of one lemon
  • a pinch of salt
to make the filling:
  • 150 g cottage cheese or cow's cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 25 g raisins
  • 40 g caster sugar
  • 1 tablespoon plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a jug, warm up the milk in the microwave for about 10 seconds, it should not be hot to touch.
  2. Add the yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar and one tablespoon of flour and set aside for 10 minutes, it will become frothy.
  3. In a large bowl, sift the flour and add the remaining sugar, egg yolk, lemon zest, salt and butter, which should be at room temperature.
  4. Mix in the yeast mixture once the 10 minutes are gone.
  5. Knead everything into a dough for at least 5 minutes, the dough will become elastic and non sticky.
  6. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for at least 2 hours.
  7. Make the filling by mixing together the crumbled cow's cheese, egg, extract, flour, sugar and raisins.
  8. Divide the dough into two balls.
  9. Oil and flour a round cake tin of approximately 10 cm.
  10. Flatten one ball out and place on the bottom of the cake tin.
  11. The second ball will be divided into 2 again and shape 2 strings out of it.
  12. Plait them together and place around the cake tin edges, so that the dough can have the shape of a well.
  13. The centre will be filled with the cheese filling.
  14. Bake in the preheated oven set to 180 degrees C (350 Fahrenheit) for at least 40 minutes or until golden brown and set.
  15. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
  16. Top with an egg painted red, have a look at my recipe on how to paint eggs red naturally: Naturally-Dyed Easter eggs

Notes

  • If you'd like to see the ingredients listed in cups and ounces, please check the US Customary Link.
  • Also, the amount of ingredients changes depending on the servings, so click on the number listed to change it to the number you prefer.
  • If you'd like to see the ingredients listed in cups and ounces, please check the US Customary Link.
  • Also, the amount of ingredients changes depending on the servings, so click on the number listed to change it to the number you prefer.

Nutrition Information

Calories 2755kcal (138%) Carbohydrates 374g (125%) Protein 69g (138%) Fat 110g (169%) Saturated Fat 67g (335%) Cholesterol 669mg (223%) Sodium 2361mg (98%) Potassium 917mg (26%) Fiber 11g (44%) Sugar 119g (238%) Vitamin A 3247IU (65%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 1020mg (102%) Iron 17mg (94%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1bread

Amount Per Serving

Calories 2755

% Daily Value*

Calories 2755kcal 138%
Carbohydrates 374g 125%
Protein 69g 138%
Fat 110g 169%
Saturated Fat 67g 335%
Cholesterol 669mg 223%
Sodium 2361mg 98%
Potassium 917mg 20%
Fiber 11g 44%
Sugar 119g 238%
Vitamin A 3247IU 65%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 1020mg 102%
Iron 17mg 94%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.