Kouloures (easter bread)

2 Loaves

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1packDry yeast
½cupWarm water
½cupBoiling water
1teaspoonCinnamon; ground
¾cupSugar
3Eggs
¼cupButter; melted
½cupWarm milk
1teaspoonBaking powder
½teaspoonSalt
5cupsFlour (all-purpose)
1Egg yolk; beaten
Sesame seeds
5Eggs; hard-cooked; unshelled and dyed red

Directions

Soften yeast in warm water and set aside. Combine boiling water and cinnamon; set aside. Combine sugar and eggs; beat well. Add melted butter to egg mixture and beat again. Skim off ¼ cup clear cinnamon water and add along with yeast and milk to egg mixture, blending well.

Combine dry ingredients and add to batter; knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Shape dough to fit into 2 greased 8 inch round pans; crisscross 2 strips of dough over each loaf.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk.

Brush loaves with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until brown. Push dyed eggs into bread immediately when loaves are removed from oven.

SOURCE: Southern Living Magazine, sometime in the early 1970s. Typed for you by Nancy Coleman.