World Flavors Cookbook

Tsoureki (Greek Easter Bread)

A rich, brioche-like sweet bread flavored with mahlab and mastic, traditionally braided with red-dyed eggs tucked into the strands.

Cuisine: Greece

Ingredients

• 1kg bread flour
• 200g butter, melted
• 250g sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tbsp mahlab, 1/2 tsp mastic (pounded)
• Orange zest
• Red-dyed hard-boiled eggs (for decoration)

Instructions

1. Make a sponge with yeast, flour, and milk. Let rise.
2. Mix in remaining ingredients and knead until silky and elastic.
3. Rise 2 hours. Divide into 3 strands and braid.
4. Tuck red eggs into the braid. Proof 1 hour.
5. Brush with egg wash and bake at 170°C for 45 minutes.