Tsoureki - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup lukewarm milk
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
2 tbsp sugar
3 1/2 tbsp butter, melted
2 None eggs, 1 beaten
1/4 tsp crushed aniseed or vanilla extract
1/2 None orange, zested
6 None chocolate Easter eggs

Preparation

Whisk together milk and yeast. Add 2-3 tsp flour and mix into a paste. Cover and set aside in a warm place to rise. Lightly grease 2 baking trays.
In a bowl, combine 1 2/3 cups flour, sugar and a pinch of salt. Add yeast mixture, butter, unbeaten egg, aniseed, orange zest and 1/3 cup hot water. Stir until well combined then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 mins, adding remaining flour until mixture becomes a pliable dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour 30 mins).
Punch dough down and divide into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into 3 - 8 inch ropes. Braid into a plait and press ends together to form a circle. Repeat with remaining pieces. Transfer to prepared trays, cover with a clean tea towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F.
Brush each loaf with beaten egg. Bake for 20-25 mins, until golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let cool on trays for 5 mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve topped with a chocolate Easter egg.