Paska

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter softened
• 12 servings coloured sprinkles 
• 3  eggs 
• 2 cups flour all-purpose
• 4 cups icing sugar 
• 2 teaspoons juice of lemon 
• 0.5  lemon zest 
• 0.5 cup scalded milk 
• 2 tablespoons orange juice 
• 0.5  orange zest 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.8 cup sugar 
• 0.5 cup warm water ( 100 degrees F/38 degrees C)
• 4.5 teaspoons yeast 

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• wire rack
• plastic wrap
• loaf pan
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Stir together 2 cups flour and the salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Stir yeast into water; add 2 tsp sugar and stir until dissolved.
3. Let mixture stand for 10 minutes until doubled in volume.
4. Meanwhile, beat eggs with electric mixer. Gradually beat in 3/4 cup sugar.
5. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in scalded milk.
6. Add egg mixture; beat well.
7. Add butter, and lemon and orange rinds and juices, and yeast; beat until combined.
8. Add 1 cup flour at a time, until dough is soft and holds its shape. Knead on a flour-covered surface until elastic and no longer sticky.
9. Place dough in a large bowl. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap that has been rubbed with a little oil.
10. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Punch down and let rise again until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
11. Divide dough in half; form each half into a loaf shape and place into a lightly greased 9 x 5-inch (23 x 12 cm) loaf pan.
12. Let rise until doubled in bulk, about an hour.
13. Bake in a preheated 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) oven until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.
14. Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes, then remove loaves from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack.
15. Ice just before serving. For each loaf, stir together 2 cups icing sugar with 1 tsp lemon juice and enough milk (approximately 4 tbsp/60 mL) to make a smooth icing that can be spooned over loaf. Decorate with sprinkles.