Dutch Easter Bread

A traditional bread from the Netherlands, our take on the Dutch Easter Bread is perfect paired with a cup of tea!
Occasions

Ingredients

500g plain flour
10g salt
14g dried yeast
200ml milk, tepid
100g caster sugar
100g butter, melted
1 egg yolk
Zest of 1 orange
300g currants, soaked, and dried
200g raisins, soaked and dried
50g candied cherries, chopped
75g succade, chopped
200g almond paste
Butter to finish
Icing sugar to dust

Method

1
Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the yeast and a splash of milk to make a paste.

2
Step 2

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt and sugar.

3
Step 3

To this mixture, add the yeast paste. Mix together milk, egg and melted butter and add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredient mixture. Mix all of the ingredients together with a wooden spoon.

4
Step 4

Once combined, knead the mixture together by hand for approximately 10 minutes until the dough is soft, slightly sticky and smooth in appearance.

5
Step 5

Mix in the currants, raisins, cherries, succade and grated orange peel.

6
Step 6

Set the dough in a bowl and cover with cling film, allowing the dough to proove in a warm area for approximately 1 hour.

7
Step 7

After rising, knead the dough by hand.

8
Step 8

Using an oval shaped baking dish, line the dish and place the dough on the tray.

9
Step 9

Mould the almond paste into a cylinder shape, 1cm shorter than the dough.

10
Step 10

Position the almond paste long on the dough and fold over the sides.

11
Step 11

Cover with cling film for a further 45 minutes.

12
Step 12

Gently brush the dough with a thin layer of milk and bake at 200°C for approximately 45 minutes.

13
Step 13

Once cooled, brush with butter and sprinkle with a light dusting of icing sugar.