Italian Easter Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
• 2/3 cup warm water
• 2 packages yeast
• 4 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Scald milk, stir in sugar, salt and butter. Cool to lukewarm.
2. Pour water into a large bowl, stir in yeast, then the milk, stir in eggs and 1 1/4 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Let rise until double its original size.
3. Brush top lightly with melted butter. Turn out onto a heavily floured board. Work dough until not sticky, but also, not heavy. Make any desired shape and let rise again until double its size.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Notes

One half cup of white raisins or 1/2 cup of glazed fruit may be added to dough.