Easter Bread Ring

This recipe is from Italy. The Italians love it, especially at Easter time.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 655 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 eggs
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• ⅔ cup milk
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons melted shortening
• ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon anise seed
• ½ cup mixed candied fruit
• ⅓ cup chopped blanched almonds
• 1 tablespoon whole milk
• 3 tablespoons multicolored sprinkles (jimmies)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Color the 5 eggs with egg dye. In a large mixing bowl, blend the white sugar, salt, and yeast well with 1 cup of the flour.

Step 2

In a saucepan, combine 2/3 cup milk and butter, heating slowly until liquid is warm and butter is melted. Pour the milk into the dry ingredients and beat 125 strokes with a wooden spoon. Add eggs and 1/2 cup flour or enough to make a thick batter. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes. Stir in enough flour to make a ball of dough that draws away from the sides of the bowl.

Step 3

Turn out onto a floured board and knead for about 10 minutes, working in additional flour to overcome stickiness. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and put in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Step 4

Meanwhile, combine the fruit, nuts, and anise seed.

Step 5

Punch down the dough and return it to a lightly floured board. Knead in the fruit mixture, keeping the syrupy pieces dusted with flour until they are worked into the dough. Divide the dough in half.

Step 6

Carefully roll each piece into a 24-inch rope--the fruit and nuts will make this slightly difficult. Loosely twist the two ropes together and form a ring on a greased baking sheet. Pinch the ends together well. Brush the dough with melted shortening. Push aside the twist to make a place for each egg. Push eggs down carefully as far as possible. Cover the bread with wax paper and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Step 7

Bake the bread in a preheated 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a twist comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Step 8

Once the bread is cool, drizzle the icing on top between the eggs, and decorate with colored sprinkles. To make icing: mix together confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon whole milk, and vanilla.