Jircitano Easter Raisin Bread Recipes

JIRCITANO EASTER RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in a bowl.
• Combine next 3 ingredients in a separate bowl.
• Put them together, knead the bugger out of it (about 20 minutes).
• Let it rest, and go rest yerself. Let it double in a warm place.
• Add the raisins. Knead a little, mixing in the raisins, then shape into loaves. (The full recipe makes 8 large or 16 small braided loaves).
• Let the loaves rise, covered, until doubled.
• Bake at 325F for 30 minutes.

ITALIAN RICOTTA EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks,1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in ricotta and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition, stirring in final 1 cup flour by hand., Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Roll each into an 18-in. rope. Place ropes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and braid. Pinch ends to seal; tuck under braid. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-55 minutes (do not overbake). Remove to wire racks to cool., Meanwhile, beat confectioners' sugar, milk and extract until smooth. Brush on bread while still warm; top with sliced almonds or sprinkles.

EASTER BUNNY COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cut cookie dough into 16 slices; cut 8 of the slices in half down the center.
• Roll each cookie slice to flatten, and shape the half slices for bunny ears.
• To make 1 bunny face cookie: place 1 whole slice cookie dough on a cookie sheet for the head; place 2 halves on top, slightly overlapping on whole slice, for the ears.
• Repeat steps to make 7 more bunny cookies, placing 2 inches apart on cookie sleet.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.
• Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to a cooling rack.
• Cool completely, about 10- 15 minutes.
• Frost cookies with cake frosting.
• Decorate each bunny cookie with icing and add a jelly bean candies for the bunny's nose.

EASTER RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place raisins in 2 cups boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes; drain and add cold water to cool until raisins are lukewarm. Then drain and place on papertowel.
• Cream butter, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground clove.
• Beat in eggs until light and fluffy. Add milk and spiced rum. Beat to blend.
• Gradually stir in flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
• Fold in shredded apples, your choice of nuts, and raisins. You may dust raisins with flour first.
• Spoon into greased and floured 5 x 9 inch loaf pan.
• Make glaze by whisking 1 beaten egg with 1 tablespoons sugar.
• Brush glaze on top of batter in loaf pan.
• Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about 1 hour or until bread passes toothpick test!

SWEET AND GOLDEN EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, butter and salt; mix well. Add eggs, extract and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; sprinkle with raisins and knead in. Divide in half. Divide each portion into thirds. Shape each into a 14-in. rope. Place three ropes on a greased baking sheet, and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., Whisk egg white and water; brush over braids. Bake at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

JIRCITANO EASTER RAISIN BREAD - BREAD MACHINE MANUAL STYLE

Steps:

• Add all ingredients except raisins to breadmaker in a way that works for you and your particular breadmaker. I like to add all the liquids first then the dry ingredients on top.
• Set breadmaker to do a manual/dough cycle (sweet bread).
• Check after 5 minutes of kneading. If dough is very sticky, add a small handful of flour. If it's very dry, add a little water. Check again after a few minutes and adjust until you get a nice dough texture.
• When cycle completes, remove dough from machine and place on a kneading surface.
• Add the raisins. Knead a little, mixing in the raisins.
• Shape into loaves. This recipe makes 2 large or 4 small braided loaves.
• Place loaves on baking sheets, allowing enough room for loaves to double in size.
• Let the loaves rise, covered, until doubled.
• Bake at 325F for 30 minutes.

ITALIAN EASTER BREAD (ANISE FLAVORED)

Steps:

• Mix 1 cup of flour with sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl, stir well. Place milk and anise extract into a small saucepan over low heat, and warm to about 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Make a well in the center of the flour mixture with your hand, and pour in the milk mixture; swirl with your hand in a circular motion to combine the flour mixture with the milk mixture. Mix in butter and eggs, one at a time, then mix in remaining flour until dough begins to pull together.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, and knead until soft but elastic, about 8 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth, and let dough rest for 10 minutes; cut dough into halves.
• On floured work surface, roll each half into a ball, then shape the balls into 2 long pieces, about 1 1/2 inches thick and 18 to 20 inches long. Pinch the 2 top ends together, and loosely twist the pieces to form a twisted loaf; pinch the bottom ends together, and tuck the two ends underneath the loaf. (Alternately, form the twist into a ring, and pinch the ends together.)
• Grease a baking sheet, lay the loaf onto the prepared sheet, and cover with a damp towel; let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush loaf with beaten egg, and sprinkle with colored decorating dragees.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake the decorated loaf in the preheated oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Watch closely towards the end of the baking time that the bread does not begin to burn. Transfer to wire rack immediately after baking to cool.

EASTER BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast thoroughly in the warm water. In a medium bowl, mix in 1 cup of the flour. Stir till mixed well. Cover and let rise till double in size.
• Blend the remaining flour in a large bowl with salt and sugar. Beat three eggs and stir in to flour. Will be crumbly. Gradually add the cup of melted butter stirring constantly. Beat the remaining three eggs and add while continuing to stir. Finally, add the yeast/flour mixture blending until completely incorporated. Use your hands if necessary. The resulting dough will be sticky. Cover and let rise till doubled in size.
• Deflate and shape into two round loaves or braid (this is not easy as the dough is very soft). Place a raw egg in center and let rise on baking sheet for at least a half hour. Place in 375 degree preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes till golden brown. You may brush the top with milk or egg yolk to glaze if desired.
• Prep time does not include rising time.

RAISIN BREAD I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• In large bowl measure flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and raisins. Stir thoroughly. Make a well in center.
• In small bowl beat egg until frothy. Mix in melted butter and milk. Pour into well. Stir just enough to moisten. Scrape into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Bake in 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 1 hour. Serve plain or toasted with butter.