Recipe 79- Tsoureki (greek sweet bread)

Hello.
This is our traditional sweet bread. We enjoy this usually during Easter.

Ingredients

5 cups flour
1 teaspoon mastiha
1 teaspoon mahlepi
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs beaten
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dry yeast
1/4 warm water
1 cup butter melted
1 cup milk warm

In a large bowl add milk, salt, cinnamon.
In a blender put the sugar, mastiha and mahlepi and blend. Add to the big bowl. Pour in the butter. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
Dissolve the yeast in the water and add to the mixture. Beat in the eggs. Start adding the flour and stir well first with the spoon and then with your hands until you have a smooth dough.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place for 2 hours.
Knead the dough again and form to balls or ropes. Punch them down a little bit and place them on a baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 350F (170C).
Brush the top of the tsoureki with a beaten egg and bake for 30 min. Then broil at HI for 3-5 min or until golden brown.

This is it. Tricky? Oh, yes but you will love it!

Enjoy!