Tsoureki (sweet Greek Easter Bread)

Total Time: 37 mins Preparation Time: 2 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 4 1/2-5 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
• 3 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 heat milk and whisk in 1½ cups flour, sugar, and yeast.
• 2 cover with plastic and let stand for ~30 minutes.
• 3 add eggs one at a time.
• 4 add another cup flour, orange zest, and salt. then add butter, vanilla, and orange juice. gradually add remaining flour, kneading until smooth.
• 5 coat a bowl with oil and roll dough in it to coat. cover with plastic and let rise for 1½ hour. preheat oven to 400.
• 6 make braids with the dough (2 loaves).
• 7 mix egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water. brush loaves with mixture.
• 8 bake 15 minutes. reduce heat to 350 and bake 20 minutes. let stand 5 minutes.