The classic Easter Bread Recipe is shared and loved by many Russians and Ukrainians. Paska (also known as Kulich) is a traditional Easter bread that is deliciously soft dough bread that tastes amazing as is or glazed with sprinkles. You won’t believe how easy it is to make Easter bread dough in a bread maker.
Holiday food is unique and special. It tastes divine. Every dish on the table is tempting. Our Easter dinner table is always full of delicious foods, but it is never complete without Paska (Easter Bread).
Paska is the perfect bread to serve during spring and pairs well with a hot tea or coffee cup. It is delicious all by itself. And it comes into existence with some effort.
Don’t let that steer you away, though, because I promise this Easter bread is well worth the time. These round-shaped, raisin-filled sweetbreads are melt-in-your-mouth yummy.
What is Paska?
Paska is an Eastern Europe Easter tradition; it means a loaf of bread or roll. Depending on where you are on the map, Easter bread is also called Kulich. This sweet bread has been passed through generations in Eastern Cultural connections and has been a family tradition of my family growing up, traditionally made with milk, butter, eggs, flour, and sugar. Paska can be baked on your own, or buy one at a bakery. Its texture is closer to a loaf of bread than cake and has a sweet soft taste. Once the bread comes out of the oven and cools down, you can glaze it with icing made from egg whites and confection sugar to give it a sweeter taste.
Tips to make the perfect Paska bread
- Use a bread machine if you have one. It’ll help cut the time and form the perfect dough.
- Make sure you have fresh yeast.
- This recipe makes 2 Easter Breads.
- When choosing your flour, try reaching for Canadian flour. Canadian flour is my go-to for so many recipes.
- Soak your raisins – this gives them a softer, fluffier texture.
- Add the cup raisins after the dough has been formed.
- If you don’t have an Easter bread mold (I didn’t), you can line the oven-safe small saucepan with parchment paper as I did.
- Wait until your bread is completely cool to pour on your icing. Otherwise, the icing will melt off and be quite transparent. You won’t get that pretty finish.
Paska is very special in my home and is an absolute must for Easter morning. I hope you give this recipe a try for your next holiday or any day. It is always a treat.
Where Do You Get Easter Bread Molds?
Before discovering the panettone paper molds, I used a saucepan or a small pot and placed parchment paper around the interior. My mom uses large empty BPA-free cans. The easter bread molds can be found on Amazon, like these here.
Can I Make Easter Bread without A Bread Machine
Combine warm milk and yeast in a small bowl for 5 minutes. Then in a large bowl, stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, mix the dough ingredients till no longer sticky. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let it rise until double in size. After the first rise, punch the dough down and let it rise again. Divide the dough into prepared oven-safe containers and bake at 350F for 40 minutes.
Ingredients for Easter Bread Recipe in a Bread Machine
Ingredients for Easter Bread Recipe in a Bread Machine
The dough for the paska recipe I use is from well-known ingredients in the local grocery store.
You will need:
Wet Ingredients:
- 1¼ cup warm milk
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 large whole eggs
- 100 g unsalted butter
- ½ Tbsp oil (like oil like vegetable oil or light olive oil)
Dry Ingredients:
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp active dry yeast
- 1 pinch vanilla
- 4 cups flour ( I use Canadian flour, but all-purpose flour works too)
- 1 cup raisins (dark or golden raisins)
For the Icing:
- egg whites
- Icing sugar (confection sugar)
- Sprinkles
Other Add Ons:
If you don’t like raisins, you can substitute for poppy seeds or not add anything at all. Easter bread is delicious on its own.
How Long Does Easter Bread Last
Be sure to store Easter Bread in an air-tight container or bag for 3-4 days. After that, the bread will become crumbly.
How to Make Paska Easter Bread Recipe (Kulich Recipe)
Steps
For the Easter Bread Dough
In a bread machine bucket, combine all bread ingredients except for the raisins.
- 1¼ cups warm milk
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 large whole eggs
- 100 g unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ Tbsp oil ( vegetable oil or light olive oil)
- 1 Tbsp dry active yeast
- 1 pinch vanilla
- 4 cups of flour
Turn your bread machine on the “dough” setting, which should take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare molds (place on a baking sheet) or saucepans by lining them with parchment paper. If you choose to add raisins, do so with a wooden spoon or by hand before placing the dough in baking containers.
Divide the dough between the two pots and sit on the counter for 10 minutes to rise more.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the two pots of dough into the oven for 40 minutes.
Icing for Easter Bread
Beat two egg whites in a small bowl for 2 minutes or until it becomes white and fluffy.
Add in 1 cup of icing sugar and combine.
Pour the frosting over the cooled easter bread and top with rainbow sprinkles.
Other Easter Recipes to Add to Your Easter Table
Easter Bread Recipe in a Bread Machine with Icing (Paska) Yum
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups milk, warm
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 100 g unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ Tbsp oil, light oil
- 1 Tbsp dry active yeast
- 1 pinch vanilla
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup icing sugar
- sprinkles
Instructions
In a bread machine bucket, combine all bread ingredients except for the raisins.
- 1¼ cups warm milk
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 large whole eggs
- 100 g unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ Tbsp oil ( vegetable oil or light olive oil)
- 1 Tbsp dry active yeast
- 1 pinch vanilla
- 4 cups of flour
Turn your bread machine on the “dough” setting, which should take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare molds (place on a baking sheet) or saucepans by lining them with parchment paper. If you choose to add raisins, do so with a wooden spoon or by hand before placing the dough in baking containers.
Divide the dough between the two pots and sit on the counter for 10 minutes to rise more.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the two pots of dough into the oven for 40 minutes.
Beat two egg whites in a small bowl for 2 minutes or until it becomes white and fluffy.
Add in 1 cup of icing sugar and combine.
Pour the frosting over the cooled easter bread and top with rainbow sprinkles.
Equipment Used
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Mouthwatering. Love the icing, just like how I remember it from my childhood.
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Yum! See easy to make the dough in the bread maker. thanks
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