Sweet Easter Bread (Tsoureki ) 2
 
 
Author/ Συγγραφέας:
Recipe type/ Τύπος Πιάτου: Sweet
Ingredients/ Συστατικά
For the Starter
  • 80 gr. /3 oz. fresh yeast+1tbsp dry yeast
  • 100 gr. /3.5 oz. all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup lukewarm water
  • 1 tsp anise
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp ground mahlep
For the Tsoureki
  • 1 kilo/2.2 lb. all-purpose flour
  • 350 gr. /12 oz. sugar
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 tsp ground mahlep
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp ground mastic
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 250 gr. /9 oz. butter
Instructions/ Εκτέλεση
For the Starter
  1. Crumble the fresh yeast and add it in the lukewarm water.
  2. Add the dry yeast, the flour and the spices and anise.
  3. Whisk and let it stay covered in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
  4. Again you will see after the 45 minutes that it will be double in volume and have bubbles on the surface.
For the Tsoureki
  1. Melt the butter and put it aside.
  2. In a pot pour the milk and the heavy cream and scald them on the stove.
  3. Add the sugar and whisk until it barely melts.
  4. Remove from stove and put aside.
  5. In the mixer bowl put the hook and throw the flour, the mahlep, the mastic, the cardamom.
  6. Add the milk/heavy cream batter and whisk.
  7. Add the starter and continue to whisk.
  8. One by one throw the eggs and the 1 tbsp of veg oil while the mixer continues to whisk.
  9. Finally add the butter and let the mixer work until a soft dough has gathered around the hook in about 15 minutes.
  10. Transfer the dough in a floured bowl, cover it with a towel and let it rest in a warm place for an hour.
  11. After an hour, knead to make about 4 tsourekia to the shape you like.
  12. Coat two baking trays with parchment paper and transfer the tsourekia there.
  13. Let them rest covered for another one hour
  14. Brush with a slightly whisked egg and decorate with the almonds and bake them in a preheated oven at 175° C/350° F for 30 minutes or until they take a beautiful golden brown color.
Note: I know that many of you cannot find mahlep or mastic where you live. You can replace them with vanilla and orange zest respectively.
Notes/ Σημειώσεις
Recipe by Mrs. Athina
Recipe by Culinary Flavors at https://www.culinaryflavors.gr/easter-sweet-bread-and-easter-cookies-tsoureki-and-koulourakia/