Easter is quickly approaching! This bread makes a great table center piece or gift. Use your bread machine to do the heavy labor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mixed candied fruit
- 1/4 cup blanched almonds, slivered
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup warm milk (just barely warm)
- 2 Tbsp butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 3 cups bread machine flour
- 1 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast
- 1/2 tsp anise seed
- 7 raw eggs, dyed
- vegetable oil
Instructions
- Add all ingredients, except the anise seed, dyed eggs, and oil, in the order listed.
- Set the bread machine to dough and start. (If your dough cycle doesn't have a rise period, set for sweet bread and remove after the first rise.)
- Add the anise seed after the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Lightly rub the dyed eggs with oil.
- After the first rise, turn the dough onto a lightly floured board.
- Punch the dough down and divide in three pieces.
- Roll each piece into a 16" rope.
- On an oiled cookie sheet, pinch one end together and loosely braid ropes.
- You can leave in one long braid, or form into a ring.
- Pinch the ends together.
- Gently pull apart ropes and tuck the eggs into the openings.
- Cover and place in a warm (not hot), draft free place.
- Let the dough rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack.
Note: Some cooks like to coat the bread with an egg wash to give it a glossy look. Others dust the bread with confectioner's (powdered) sugar. Some like to use colored sugar as a topping. The choice is yours.
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