ITALIAN EASTER BREAD

My mom made this sweet bread every year for Easter when I was young.  I decided to carry on the tradition for my family.  This bread is sweet and delicious and a real work of art! 

1 cup sugar
2 packages active dry yeast or 4 1/2 teaspoons from jar
6 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened and sliced
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs, divided
olive oil
4 or 5 eggs (dyed, not cooked)
colored sugar

In an electric mixing bowl mix sugar, yeast, 2 cups flour and salt.
Heat milk and butter in a small saucepan until temperature reaches 130º.  Mix milk mixture with flour mixture for 2 minutes.
Add 3 eggs and vanilla mix for another 2 minutes.
Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time while slowly mixing until well combined.  You should have a soft sticky dough.
Knead dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl, turning once so there's oil on top of dough.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
*I put the bowl on the top rack of the oven and a pot of boiling water on the bottom rack to rise.

Color eggs now if you haven't already done so.

Knead dough until smooth.  

For a twist, divide dough into 4 equal parts, with your hands roll each piece into a rope about 18 inches long. Then gently twist 2 ropes together, repeat with other 2 ropes. 

For a braid, divide dough into 3 equal parts, with your hands roll each piece into a rope about 24 inches long.  Then gently braid the ropes together.  Use a pizza stone or greased sheet pan, connect the rope ends into a ring.  Insert colored eggs.   Cover ring with a kitchen towel and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375.  Beat egg with a splash of water.  Brush ring with egg wash.  Sprinkle with colored sugar.  Bake 25 minutes.

Serve plain or with butter.  Eggs will be hard cooked and edible.

*To color eggs - combine 1/2 hot cup water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 20 drops food coloring - allow egg to soak for 20 minutes.  Check back of food coloring box for color guide!