Paska bread is synonymous with Easter in my house. We make this traditional Ukrainian Easter bread recipe every Easter holiday and use any leftovers to make the most delicious french toast.
There is nothing like breathing in the familiar smells of warm rising dough full of yeast, butter and eggs to take me back to the Easters of my childhood. I will treasure memories of sitting in front of a plate of freshly sliced Paska with full access to the butter to slather across the slice and no adult to tell me to stop.
Paska Recipe Ingredients:
- sugar - white sugar
- water - luke warm
- yeast - instant dry
- whole milk - scalded and cooled
- flour - all-purpose, divided Read about why the type of flour can make a difference in my baking definitions post.
- eggs - beaten
- butter - melted
- Sugar - yes, more white sugar
- salt
- egg, for brushing over bread
How to make Paska bread:
- Combine the sugar, warm water, and yeast and allow to sit for about 10 minutes until the yeast becomes soft and starts to bloom.
- Combine the yeast mixture with the cooled scalded milk and 5 cups flour.
- Cover and allow to rise in a warm place until light and bubbly.
- Once you have reached the light and bubbly stage it is time to add:
- the melted butter
- the 6 beaten eggs
- the 1 cup sugar
- the 1 Tablespoon salt
- Stir to combine.
- Add enough flour to make the dough come together. It should not be too sticky or too stiff. This could be up to 10 cups of additional flour. YES this makes A LOT!
- Place the dough in a large pot or bowl, cover and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size.
- After the rise, punch the dough down and work it into a smooth ball, adding additional flour if needed.
- Divide the dough into rounds, or braid it or shape it for small loaf pans.
- Cover and allow the dough to rise ONE MORE TIME! Yes, this is the FINAL rise.
- Whisk together the egg with about a tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush the egg wash over the dough for a shiny finish when the bread comes out of the oven.
- Score the dough if you are looking for a bit of decoration.
- Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes.
- Lower the temperature in the oven to 350 (but don't remove the bread). Cover the bread with foil to prevent over-browning.
- Bake an additional 25 minutes at 350.
- Cool completely and store wrapped in plastic wrap or a zip top bag to keep it fresh.
Paska Recipe. Ukrainian Tradition.
One of my favorite memories of Easter is my Grandmother making Paska, a traditional Easter bread for us each year and this is the Paskarecipe that she used. My Grandmother didn't make it with the traditional red dyed, hard boiled eggs tucked into the braids but she did make a nice braid out of the dough.I have opted to go a little more modern and forgo the braiding all together and opt for loaf or round pans. This traditional bread is full of eggs and butter. It is rich, thick and makes AMAZING french toast if you can keep it around for more than a few hours.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
I tell you to cool the scalded milk because if the milk is too hot (120 F or higher) then it starts to kill the yeast. Optimal temperature is about 100F.
Depending on how warm your warm place will be this could take an hour or so.
We love to serve fresh, warm Paska bread with butter or butter and jam. It is wonderful dunked in your favorite soup or sliced thick to make french toast.
Just know that this is not a quick process and you should a lot at least 4 hours for the entire process if you are making a single recipe. Recently my sister and I made three batches and it took us just over 6 hours. Trust me, the time is well worth it!
Printable Recipe for Paska Bread:
Paska Bread
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 ½ t. granular yeast
- 3 cups whole milk scalded and cooled
- 15 cups all purpose flour divided
- 6 eggs beaten
- 1 cup sugar
- ⅔ cup butter melted
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 1 egg for brushing over bread
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, warm water and yeast and allow to sit for about 10 minutes until the yeast becomes soft and starts to bloom.
- Combine the yeast mixture with the cooled scalded milk and 5 cups flour.
- Cover and allow to rise in a warm place until light and bubbly. Depending on how warm your warm place will be this could take an hour or so.
- Once you have reached the light and bubbly stage it is time to add the melted butter, 6 beaten eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 Tablespoon salt and Stir to combine.
- Add enough flour to make the dough come together. It should not be too sticky or too stiff. This could be up to 10 cups of additional flour
- Place the dough in a large pot or bowl, cover and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size.
- After the rise, punch the dough down and work it into a smooth ball adding additional flour if needed.
- Divide the dough into rounds, or braid it or shape it for small loaf pans. Make sure the dough is tight and well worked before you place it on a pan.
- Cover and allow the dough to rise ONE MORE TIME! Yes, this is the FINAL rise.
- Whisk together the egg with about a tablespoon of water to make an egg wash.
- Brush the egg wash over the dough for a shiny finish when the bread comes out of the oven. Score the dough if you are looking for a bit of decoration.
- Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes.
- Lower the temperature in the oven to 350 (but don't remove the bread). Cover the bread with foil to prevent over browning.
- Bake an additional 25 minutes at 350.
- Cool completely and store wrapped in plastic wrap or a zip top bag to keep it fresh.
Notes
Nutrition
originally published Mar 22, 2016
Alexia
Such a good recipe! Brings back memories.It IS a long time from start to finish but well worth it.
AJ
Just like my grandmother use to make! memories.....
Karla
THANK YOU! This reminds me so much of my childhood at my grandmothers house!
Reesa Lewandowski
I have never had or heard of Paska! It's a beautiful bread! Look how pretty it looks in the pan rising!
Megan
I have a recipe for paska that is a family favorite. My recipe is slightly different than yours--the biggest difference is that my recipe has quite a bit more butter in it. :) My favorite ways to use the dough are for what my mom called crescent rolls and tea ring. For the crescent rolls I roll the dough into a circle, cut it into triangles (like cutting a pizza) then roll each one up. They're not like flaky croissants, but have the same shape. The tea ring is started by rolling dough into a rectangle. Then I spread softened butter on it and sprinkle cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins on top (and sometimes cardamom). Then I roll it into a log shape, then put that into a circle. I use kitchen scissors to cut most of the way through (from the inside) then flip each section out. Sorry if that doesn't make sense--I'd post pictures if I knew how to do that in a blog comment. :) After it bakes, I drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze (with almond or vanilla flavoring) over the top.
Doreen Pendgracs
I am of Ukrainian Canadian heritage and love Paska. But the one I love the most has raisins and a touch of saffron in it. The saffron really adds that something special. Happy Easter to you!