UKRAINIAN EASTER PASKA

This recipe makes a delicious tender bread!
Tried and True recipe.
Makes two 9-inch round loaves

2 envelopes (4 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup warm water

12 cups sifted all-purpose flour (I used less about 9)
2 cups milk, warm (100° to 110°)
3 large eggs, room temperature
8 large yolks, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 orange
3 tablespoons rum or brandy
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, MELTED, plus more for pans
1/2 cup vegetable or sunflower oil
3 large eggs separated { egg whites for brushing under motifs}{ egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp. water for brushing tops of paska}

1. In a medium bowl combine yeast, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 warm water (100° to 110°). Mix until smooth. Set bowl aside until mixture is bubbly, 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Add 4 cups flour and milk to yeast mixture. With a wooden spoon, mix until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature until double in size, about 30 minutes.

3. In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat 3 eggs, 8 egg yolks, and sugar until light and pale yellow, about 5 minutes. Add the mixture from steps 1 and 2. Add salt, vanilla extract, lemon zest, orange zest, rum or brandy, melted butter, and vegetable oil. Whisk on medium speed until combined.

4. Remove whisk attachment from machine, and fit with the dough hook attachment. With mixer on medium-low speed, gradually add enough of the remaining 8 cups flour until dough comes away from side of bowl. Transfer dough to a clean work surface. Knead dough, adding any remaining flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer dough to a large bowl, and cover with a cloth or plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot away from drafts, and let it rise until double in size, 1 to 2 hours. {I had no dough hook so I used wooden spoon and then my hands, {mix well}

5. Place rack in lower two-thirds of oven, and heat to 350°. Butter two 9-inch saucepans. Cut a piece of waxed paper {parchment paper I like more} about 2 inches longer than the circumference of the saucepan. Fold this in half lengthwise to make a double thickness. Place inside the saucepan, patting it to adhere to the butter. The collar should extend 3 to 4 inches above the rim of the saucepan. Seal the 2-inch flap with more butter. {Butter waxed paper or parchment too} [I like to cut out circles and put on the bottom off pan, paska comes out easier]

6. When dough has doubled in bulk, punch down, and set aside one-third of dough in a medium bowl covered with plastic wrap for decorations. Divide remaining two-thirds dough evenly between saucepans. Place bowl and saucepans of dough in a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes.

7. After 30 minutes, on a clean work surface, shape reserved dough into desired motifs—solar, crosses, rosettes, birds, braids, scrolls, etc. Keep any dough that is not being used covered with plastic to prevent it from drying out. Brush surface of risen dough in saucepans with 3 lightly beaten egg whites. Attach decorative dough ornaments, using a toothpick if necessary to secure motifs to loaves. Keep in a warm place to rise until it reaches almost the top of pans, 20 to 30 minutes. {Do secure motifs with toothpicks and leave them on to bake then gently take them out after baking}

8. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 3 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon water. Brush egg mixture on surface of loaves. Bake for 10 minutes, lower the oven temperature to 325°, and bake for an additional 50 minutes. Cool paska in pans for 30 minutes. When paska has cooled but is still warm, gently remove from pans, and transfer to a rack to cool.
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Ukrainian Easter Paska
Makes 3 or 4 Paska

The Paska in the Easter basket reminds us that Christ is the Living Bread. Pride is taken in the ornamentation that decorates the top of the Paska----crosses, twists, rosettes, pine cones

1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 teaspoon sugar

Combine until yeast is dissolved, 10 minutes.

6 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups scalded milk (cool to lukewarm)
10-11 cups flour

Combine the softened yeast with beaten eggs, add sugar, butter, oil, salt, and milk.
Mix in the flour and knead until smooth and elastic. Cover, let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.

Punch down and let rise again.

Take dough, make a round base 1 inch thick, and cover the bottom of a round 9 inch greased pan.

Take 2 equal-sized pieces of dough, roll each to 36 inches in length.
Place side by side and starting from center, entwine each other, do the other half in the same manner. Place the entwined length on the base, in a circle along the edge of the pan.

Roll 4 equal pieces of dough each to 10 inches lengths, entwine 2 lengths on the base to cross each other at the center, curl each end. Let rise to almost double in bulk.

Be careful not to let the paska rise too long, as the ornaments will lose their definition. Brush lightly with beaten egg.

Bake 400 degrees F for 15 minutes then lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake 45 minutes or until done. If Paska gets to brown cover with foil.
Remove the loaves from the pans and allow them to cool.