Grandma’s Easter Bread

Prep Time:
25 mins

Cook Time:
1 hr 10 mins

Additional Time:
1 hr 35 mins

Total Time:
3 hrs 10 mins

Servings:
16

Yield:
2 loaves

Ingredients

Directions

Combine 5 cups flour, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, Romano cheese, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; stir well and set aside.

Stir warm water and yeast together in a small bowl. Set aside until dissolved and bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.

Zest and juice orange into a large bowl. Stir in melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined. Stir in yeast mixture. Add flour mixture gradually, stirring as you go.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, adding up to 1 extra cup of flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 30 to 60 minutes.

Punch dough down, cover and let rise again until almost doubled in size, 30 to 60 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease two 8-inch round loaf pans.

Cut dough into 2 equal pieces and shape into loaves. Place in the prepared pans, cover, and let rise again until almost doubled in size, 30 to 60 minutes.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cook on a wire rack.

Kim

Cook’s Note

Patricia's recipe called for shortening. I tried it with butter instead. Either should work.

You can use a combination of Romano and Parmesan cheeses.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)