Tsoureki (Traditional Greek Easter Bread) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups bread flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp mahlepi (mahleb)
1 tsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp active dry yeast
6 None eggs
7 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk

Preparation

Bring 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add to large mixer bowl with orange juice and sugar.
Combine the flour, salt, mahlepi, vanilla sugar and dry yeast in a bowl. Add to the mixer at low speed.
Add 4 eggs. Melt butter with the milk. Gradually add to the mixer. Mix for about 20 mins.
Turn out the dough onto a work surface and cover with a towel. Leave it to rise and double in size.
Divide into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece with your hands into a long strand. Braid the strands on a baking pan. Leave it to rise and double in size.
Preheat the oven to 300\u00b0F. Lightly beat remaining 2 eggs. Lightly brush the whole tsoureki with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired.
Bake about 40 mins or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.