Home Bread-Bakers v114.n015.5
[Advanced]

Bread, Italian Easter Bread (Anise Flavored)

Reggie Dwork <reggie@jeff-and-reggie.com>
Sun, 13 Apr 2014 23:14:27 -0700
v114.n015.5
* Exported from MasterCook *

            Bread, Italian Easter Bread (Anise Flavored)

Recipe By     :LadyAnna123
Serving Size  : 14    Preparation Time :0:15
Categories    : Bread                           Ethnic
                  Holidays                        Italian
                  Low Fat

    Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
    3               cups  all-purpose flour -- divided
       1/4           cup  white sugar
    1           teaspoon  salt
       1/4         ounce  rapid rise yeast
       2/3           cup  milk
    1           teaspoon  anise extract
    1         tablespoon  butter -- room temp
    2                     eggs
    1                     egg -- beaten
       1/2    tablespoon  colored candy decorating dragees -- or as desired

Growing up, this was the best treat of Easter morning (and still is)! 
One bite of this light, fluffy, sweet bread and you're twelve years 
old again! Bakery quality in two hours. Try this South Philly Italian 
tradition and keep the heritage alive...Buona Pasqua a Tutti!

Original recipe makes 1 loaf

1.  Mix 1 cup of flour with sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl, stir 
well. Place milk and anise extract into a small saucepan over low 
heat, and warm to about 110F (43C). Make a well in the center of the 
flour mixture with your hand, and pour in the milk mixture; swirl 
with your hand in a circular motion to combine the flour mixture with 
the milk mixture. Mix in butter and eggs, one at a time, then mix in 
remaining flour until dough begins to pull together.

2.  Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, and knead until 
soft but elastic, about 8 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth, and let 
dough rest for 10 minutes; cut dough into halves.

3.  On floured work surface, roll each half into a ball, then shape 
the balls into 2 long pieces, about 1 1/2 inches thick and 18 to 20 
inches long. Pinch the 2 top ends together, and loosely twist the 
pieces to form a twisted loaf; pinch the bottom ends together, and 
tuck the two ends underneath the loaf. (Alternately, form the twist 
into a ring, and pinch the ends together.

4.  Grease a baking sheet, lay the loaf onto the prepared sheet, and 
cover with a damp towel; let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush 
loaf with beaten egg, and sprinkle with colored decorating dragees.

5.  Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Bake the decorated loaf in the 
preheated oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Watch closely towards 
the end of the baking time that the bread does not begin to burn. 
Transfer to wire rack immediately after baking to cool.

Source:
    "allreccipes.com"
S(Internet address):
    "http://allrecipes.com/recipe/italian-easter-bread-anise-flavored/";
Yield:
    "8 "
Start to Finish Time:
    "2:00"
T(cook):
    "0:20"
                                      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 143 Calories; 3g Fat (16.3% 
calories from fat); 5g Protein; 25g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 
49mg Cholesterol; 182mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 
Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.