Armenian Easter Bread

Total Time: 24 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 4 mins

Ingredients

• 6 cups flour
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup milk, warmed
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon mahleb, ground seeds (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon nigella seeds
• 1 egg yolk
• sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional) or coarsely chopped blanched almond, for topping (optional)

Recipe

• 1 dissolve yeast in warm milk in kitchen aide.
• 2 add sugar and melted butter.
• 3 beat eggs and add, along with salt, ground mahleb and nigella.
• 4 add flour gradually, one cup at a time until dough comes away from sides of bowl.
• 5 knead 10 minutes until shiny and no longer sticky.
• 6 place dough in oiled bowl, turn to coat outside with oil and cover. put in a warm place to rise until doubled.
• 7 divide into two or three balls.
• 8 divide each ball into three and roll out with your hands to three long ropes.
• 9 pinch all three ends together and braid loosely. pinch ends and tuck under.
• 10 cover and allow to rise again until doubled.
• 11 brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or chopped blanced almonds.
• 12 bake for 20 minutes in preheated 400 degree oven.