Easter Kulich
Ingredients:
- 700g of flour
- 1 packet of dry yeast (make sure it’s suitable for 1kg of flour)
- 6 eggs
- 1/2 liter of milk
- 200g of butter
- 150g of raisins
- 150g of candied fruit
- 1.5 cups of sugar (about 300g)
- a pinch of cardamom
- a pinch of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Gently warm the milk in a saucepan until it reaches room temperature. Completely dissolve the yeast in the milk, stirring thoroughly to ensure no lumps remain.
- Sift half of the flour and add it to the milk-yeast mixture. Stir well. Cover the saucepan with a lid and a towel, then let it sit in a warm place for half an hour until the sponge doubles in size. If it hasn’t doubled, allow more time for the sponge to rise.
- Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Beat the yolks with 300g of sugar until creamy. Add cardamom, vanilla, and melted butter. Incorporate this mixture into the sponge. Mix well and add the remaining flour. Stir until combined.
- Knead the dough for the Easter Kulich thoughtfully and with care. Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rise for an hour.
- While the dough rises, rinse the raisins and soak them for 2 minutes. Combine them with the candied fruit and coat with a spoonful of flour to prevent sinking. Add the fruit mixture to the dough, mix well, and let it rest for another hour.
- Lightly grease the Kulich mold with melted butter and sprinkle with flour. Pour the prepared dough into the mold.
- Fill the mold to one-third of its height to prevent overflow during baking. Cover with a cloth and let it rest for another half hour. Brush the top of the Kulich with beaten egg and sprinkle with chopped candied fruit if desired.
- Bake the Kulich in a preheated oven for about an hour. Check for doneness with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, the Kulich is ready. Be cautious when opening the oven door to avoid jarring the delicate dough.
- Once the Kulich has cooled slightly, prepare the glaze by beating the egg white until fluffy and gradually adding lemon juice and powdered sugar until smooth. Optionally, add drops of flavored syrup for color. Carefully spread the glaze over the top of the Kulich.
- Allow the Kulich to cool completely before serving. Enjoy this festive treat with your loved ones!
