Ukrainian Overnight Paska or Kolach or Rolls

1 pkg. dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2/3 cup flour
1-1/2 cups warm milk or evaporated milk
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
Rind of 2 lemons grated
1-1/2 cups melted butter
10 eggs beaten
11 to 12 cups all purpose or bread flour
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water.

Directions:

In a small mixing bowl, combine yeast and water, stirring until dissolved. Add 2/3 cup of flour and beat till smooth. Cover with a towel and set aside until doubled and bubbling about 45 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, blend milk, sugar, salt, lemon rind. Stir in butter and eggs. Beat in yeast mixture and 4 cups of flour until smooth. Gradually, add enough flour to make a soft, workable dough.

Turn out and knead until satiny about 15 minutes. Place dough in large greased bowl ( I use two large bowls because this dough rises a lot.)

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and towel. Set in a warm, protected spot overnight.

Next morning punch dough down, knead 3 minutes, cover and let rest 10 to 15 minutes.

Shape into rolls or braids or pan bread or Paska.

Place on a greased sheet or pans or (coffee cans for paska)(fill paska 2/3 full).

Butter coffee cans well and sprinkle with fine bread crumbs. I like to spray pans with vegetable spray and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Let dough rise for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Brush with egg wash. Bake 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until brown. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Adjust baking time for rolls or kolach.

User Reviews:

Thanks for this recipe! It has become a family favorite of ours for Easter and Christmas. Ever since our old neighborhood bakery closed down. We could no longer buy our Paska bread for the holidays. I began using this overnight recipe about 5 years ago and our Holiday Paska bread tradition has been saved! Thanks for posting it!

submitted by bellerphon on December 01, 2006

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