Italian Easter Bread (Anise Flavored)

Name: Italian Easter Bread (Anise Flavored)
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian, European
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon anise extract; 2 Tbsps butter at room temperature; 1 egg, beaten; 2 eggs; 710 milliliters all-purpose flour, divided; 158 milliliters milk; 1 teaspoon salt; 59 milliliters white sugar; 7 grams package rapid rise yeast

The recipe Italian Easter Bread (Anise Flavored) is ready in about 2 hours and is definitely an outstanding vegetarian option for lovers of Mediterranean food. For 37 cents per serving, you get a bread that serves 8. One serving contains 259 calories, 8g of protein, and 6g of fat. It can be enjoyed any time, but it is especially good for Easter. 177 people found this recipe to be tasty and satisfying. A mixture of rapid rise yeast, sugar, egg, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so scrumptious.

Instructions

Mix 1 cup of flour with sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl, stir well.

Ingredients you will need

All Purpose Flour

Sugar

Yeast

Salt

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Place milk and anise extract into a small saucepan over low heat, and warm to about 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). 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.

Ingredients you will need

Anise Extract

All Purpose Flour

Milk

Equipment you will use

Sauce Pan

Mix in butter and eggs, one at a time, then mix in remaining flour until dough begins to pull together.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

Dough

All Purpose Flour

Egg

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.

Ingredients you will need

Dough

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.)

Ingredients you will need

Roll

Grease a baking sheet, lay the loaf onto the prepared sheet, and cover with a damp towel; let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Brush loaf with beaten egg, and sprinkle with colored decorating dragees.

Ingredients you will need

Egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Equipment you will use

Oven

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.

Ingredients you will need

Bread

Equipment you will use

Oven

Transfer to wire rack immediately after baking to cool.

Equipment you will use

Wire Rack

Equipment

Ingredients

Servings:

1teaspoon

anise extract 2Tbsps

butter at room temperature 1

egg, beaten 2

eggs 710milliliters

all-purpose flour, divided 158milliliters

milk 1teaspoon

salt 59milliliters

white sugar 7grams

package rapid rise yeast

Recommended wine: Chianti, Trebbiano, Verdicchio

Italian on the menu? Try pairing with Chianti, Trebbiano, and Verdicchio. Italians know food and they know wine. Trebbiano and Verdicchio are Italian white wines that pair well with fish and white meat, while Chianti is a great Italian red for heavier, bolder dishes. You could try Caposaldo Chianti. Reviewers quite like it with a 5 out of 5 star rating and a price of about 13 dollars per bottle.