Easter Twist Tsoureki, Betsanes' Greek Bread

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Easter Twist Tsoureki or Betsanes' Greek Bread is a traditional Easter recipe that is sure to be a hit at your Easter egg hunt. This recipe make about 4 to 5 loaves so that you will have enough to serve a crowd. Get the kids and the whole family involved in the production of these loaves and start a new family tradition or keep one alive for generations to come.

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 (0.25-ounce) packages active dry yeast, about 4 to 5 tablespoons
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus 5-pounds sifted flour, plus more as needed, divided
• 1 tablespoon, plus 3 cups sugar, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon, plus 1 tablespoon salt
• 12 eggs
• 1 or 2 eggs, beaten, for glazing
• 2 cups milk, scalded and cooled
• 5 sticks unsalted butter, melted, about 1.25-pounds
• 1 tablespoons ground masticha flavoring or 1 teaspoon ground mahlepi flavoring or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• sesame seeds for topping
• 1 dozen red-dyed hard-boiled eggs for decoration

Details

Servings 4
Preparation time 305mins
Cooking time 345mins

Preparation

Step 1

Mix yeast with water. Add 1/2 cup flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir, and let rise in a warm place until mixture bubbles and foams, about 10 minutes.

In a very large bowl beat 12 eggs. Add 3 cups sugar, cooled milk, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir in yeast mixture. Blend masticha or mahlepi or vanilla extract with sifted flour and add to liquid to make a stiff and elastic dough. Knead well on a floured board for about 5 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl; cover with a damp towel and let rise until double in bulk. Punch down and turn over in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a damp towel and let rise again until almost doubled in bulk. (The second rising should not take as long as the first.)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Shape dough into fifteen to eighteen 14-inch-long ropes, braid 3 at a time, and place on greased round bread pans or cookie sheets to rise; cover. When they have doubled in bulk, brush with beaten eggs and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange 3 or 4 red eggs on each braid in the shape of a cross. If long braids are made, put 1 red egg at the top. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.