Colomba di Pasqua {Easter Dove Bread}
 
 
Ingredients
  • 2 oz. fresh yeast (OR 3 pckges of dry yeast = ¾ oz)
  • ¾ c. water
  • 1 c. milk, scalded
  • ½ c. sugar
  • 6 c. all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 4 oz. butter at room temperature, cut into pieces
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¾. c. chopped toasted almonds
  • ¾ c. diced candied orange rind
  • Glaze
  • 1 c. sugar
  • ½ c. whole unblanched almonds
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 1⅓ sliced almonds
  • Powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the yeast, water, milk and sugar and blend well with a whisk.
  3. Add 2 cups of flour and whisk until pasty.
  4. Attach dough hook. Add remaining ingredients to bowl and mix just until well blended.
  5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, place in a warm area of the room and allow the dough to rise until doubled in volume. (Daniel's trick is to put the bowl in another bowl of warm water to decrease the rising time-this works great!)
  6. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured board. Divide the dough into 2 almost equal pieces. Roll each dough piece into a smooth ball.
  7. Shape the larger piece of dough into a 12" log with tapered ends. Shape the smaller piece into an 8" log with tapered ends. Place the larger log on prepared pan lengthwise and the shorter log widthwise. Shape into a stylized dove. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in size.
  8. Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350° F.
  9. To make the Glaze - finely grind sugar and whole almonds in processor. Add egg whites and almond extract and blend for 10 seconds. Slowly spoon glaze over top of bread-you may not need to use it all. Sprinkle sliced almonds.
  10. Bake bread until brown on top and slender wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool completely on rack. Dust with powdered sugar.
Recipe by Ortensia Blu at https://ortensiablutraveladventures.com/colomba-di-pasqua-easter-dove-bread/