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Easter bread and candied orange peel recipes

Easter Bread

For the Preferment Dough

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon instant dry yeast

1 tablespoon room-temperature water

For the First Dough

1 batch of Preferment Dough

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon instant dry yeast

2 tablespoons sugar

2½ tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

2 tablespoons whole milk, room temperature

1 large egg yolk, room temperature

For the Final Dough

1 batch of First Dough

4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon instant dry yeast

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large egg yolks (reserve 1 white for topping)

1 teaspoon lemon zest

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold

4 teaspoon sugar

¼ cup chopped candied orange peel

1 tablespoon almond paste, broken into pieces

For the Topping

1/3 cup corn flour

1½ teaspoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons almond flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1½ teaspoons canola oil

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg white

1/3 cup slivered almonds

To prepare the preferment (see note), combine the flour and yeast in a small bowl and mix to combine. Add the water and mix by hand until a dough forms, about 1 minute. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until bubbly and doubled in size, about 10 hours.

To prepare the first dough, place the preferment dough in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the flour, yeast, sugar, butter, milk, and egg yolk. Using the dough hook, mix on medium-high speed until a dough forms and the butter is incorporated, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm place until doubled in size, about 12 hours or overnight.

To prepare the final dough, place the first dough in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the flour, yeast, salt, vanilla, egg yolks, and zest. Using the dough hook, mix on medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally. Increase the speed to high, and mix until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl, about 4 minutes.

Add about one-third of the butter and mix on high speed until the butter is incorporated and the dough begins to form around the hook, about 4 minutes. With the mixer running, add half of the sugar and half of the remaining butter. Add the remaining sugar and remaining butter, then increase the speed to high and mix until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl and formed a ball around the dough hook, about 5 minutes. The dough will be very sticky, but should be firm enough to handle (it may be helpful to dust your hands with flour).

Add the candied orange peel and almond paste, and fold into the dough, kneading gently just until incorporated.

Transfer the dough to a lightly-oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to rest for 10 minutes. In the bowl, fold the dough in half, then in half again. Re-cover and rest for an additional 10 minutes.

Shape the dough into a loose loaf and transfer to a Colomba di Pasqua mold (or 8- by 4-inch loaf pan). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to ferment until nearly doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Meanwhile, to prepare the topping, combine the corn flour, all-purpose flour, almond flour, sugar, oil, vanilla, and egg white in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until small crumbs form, about 30 seconds. Remove from the mixer and add the almonds, tossing gently to combine. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Gently stretch the sides of the dough to fit the shape of the mold (skip this step if using a loaf pan). Sprinkle the bread with the topping (depending on the mold, you may not use it all) and set aside to rest for one more hour. When pressed gently, the dough should spring back about halfway.

Bake until the topping is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Place on a rack to cool completely before serving.

Note: With some simple planning, this dough can be prepared in two days. In the morning, prepare the preferment dough. It will be ready by that evening, when you can mix the first dough. After it rests overnight, you can prepare the final dough the next morning.

Makes 1 loaf (10 servings)

Nutrition information per serving of bread: 197 calories; 109 calories from fat; 12 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 75 mg cholesterol; 108 mg sodium; 19 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 7 g sugar; 4 g protein.

Candied Orange Peel

2 navel oranges

1½ cups sugar

1½ cups water

Cut across the stem ends of each orange to remove the top and bottom "caps." Use a sharp knife to score the skin from top to bottom, without slicing into the flesh, around the four quarters of each orange.

Peel the skin from the oranges and scrape away any flesh, leaving the white pith. Slice the peels into ¼-inch strips.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the orange peels and simmer for 2 minutes. Drain, then repeat the process with clean water.

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the orange peel and reduce to a simmer. Cook, covered, until the orange peel is soft and translucent, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely.

Transfer the peels, with their syrup, to a jar or covered container and refrigerate until needed.

Note: The resulting cooking liquid is a flavorful syrup that can be used in cocktails, to soak cakes, or as a sweetener in sorbets and Popsicles. Simmer it over low heat to reduce it further, if desired.

Makes about 1 cup (40 servings)

Nutrition information per serving of candied orange peel: 21 calories; 0 calories from fat; 0 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 0 mg sodium; 6 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 0 g protein.

The Culinary Institute of America

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