Paska Bread for Easter

It's also tradition to serve Paska for Easter in the home of egg farmers Chris and Laura Mullet Koop of Jordan, Ontario. This month we're sharing Chris' mother Mary's recipe for Paska on Egg Farmers of Ontario's website. We've included a recipe for the icing (which you can make as thick or thin as you like), or you can use your favourite icing recipe. (A cream cheese icing is very nice on this bread.) If you're going to add the sprinkles (and you really should for the full effect!), do so while the icing is wet, but don't ice the bread and add the sprinkles too many hours ahead of serving as the colour from the sprinkles may bleed into the icing.

Want to learn more about the Mullet Koop family? Click here.

FAQ

What does Paska mean in Ukrainian?

In Ukrainian, Paska signifies the sweet bread baked during Easter.

What is Paska bread made of?

Paska is made with flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, milk, and citrus rind and juice, then covered with a sweet icing and coloured sprinkles or jimmies once baked and cooled. The loaves are typically served at a light supper on Easter Sunday.

Traditionally, the bread is made in empty coffee cans so that while the unbaked loaves proof, they rise up and billow over the top of the cans to form giant mushroom-shaped loaves. Or, the loaves are simply shaped into domes or rounds.

What does Paska bread symbolize?

According to the Ukrainian catholic church, Paska symbolizes Jesus Christ, the “living Bread”.

What does Paska taste like? 

Paska has a bread-like texture and is slightly sweet in taste, similar to a brioche. Sometimes, dried fruit like raisins are added into the dough mixture for a sweet and chewy texture.