Perfect Overnight Alexandrian Easter Bread: A Festive Baking Recipe.

How to Make Overnight Alexandrian Easter Bread

According to Novyny.live: Smakuiemo has shared a recipe for overnight Alexandrian Easter bread that achieves a flawless holiday bake through extended fermentation. This bread makes a wonderful addition to your festive table, delighting with its rich flavor and aroma.

Ingredients

To prepare Alexandrian Easter bread, you will need the following ingredients:

• 250 ml milk
• 250 g sugar (divided as 50 g + 50 g + 150 g)
• 35–36 g fresh compressed yeast
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 eggs
• 250 g butter
• 100 g raisins
• 50 g water
• 1 tablespoon cognac
• 20 g vanilla sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 700 g flour (±35 g)
• 0.5 teaspoon turmeric

Bake the Easter bread at 180°C, then reduce the temperature to 160°C. The total baking time will be approximately 35–40 minutes.

Instructions

The preparation involves several stages. First, combine 50 g of sugar and the yeast in warm milk. Separately, mix the egg yolks, eggs, 50 g of sugar, and softened butter, then add this mixture to the yeast mixture. Cover and leave at room temperature for 10–12 hours. For the raisins, pour a hot syrup made from water and 50 g of sugar over them, add the cognac, and let them steep.

After this, add salt and sugar combined with vanilla sugar and zest to the sponge, and mix thoroughly. Gradually incorporate the flour, kneading into a soft, elastic dough. Optionally, add turmeric. Finally, fold in the raisins, mix again, transfer the dough to a greased bowl, and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours until doubled in size. Fill the baking pan to one-third full, let it rise for another hour, and brush the surface with a yolk-milk mixture before baking.

Smakuiemo's publication of this Alexandrian Easter bread recipe highlights the traditions of festive baking in Ukraine, where Easter bread holds a central place on the holiday table. The long fermentation used in this method gives the bread a distinctive flavor and aroma, making it truly unique. This recipe can be a valuable resource for home bakers planning to prepare something special for celebrations. It also opens the door to experimenting with ingredients like turmeric, which adds a fresh twist to the classic Easter bread flavor.