Folar da Páscoa (Massa) ~ Portuguese Sweet Bread

This is truly my all time favourite holiday bread.

  Portuguese Sweet Bread is typically called “Massa”

and at Easter time, the addition of brown eggs on top is

referred to as “Folar.”  The eggs represent life.

Ingredients

3 3/4 cups Flour

1 1/4 TBsp Fresh Yeast or packet yeast
1/4 cup Caster Sugar (Icing Sugar if you can’t get Caster Sugar)
6 TBsp Butter
1 Egg
1 1/4 cups Milk
1 Tsp Aniseed
1 Tsp Cinnamon
pinch of sea salt

2 or 3 hard-boiled eggs (left in their shells) - optional
1 beaten egg for brushing

In a bowl combine the yeast, 1/4 of the flour, a 1/3 of the milk (warmed) and half the sugar. Mix together to form a dough, cover and leave in a warm place for 1/2 hour . In another bowl whisk egg with salt,spices and remaining milk and sugar.

Gradually kneed remaining flour and egg mix into the dough. Then kneed in the butter.

Cover the dough and leave it to rise for about 3 hours in a warm place.

Take a small piece of dough and roll into lengths, which will be used to hold eggs in place.  Separate dough into two (or leave whole) and plant the eggs on top. Make a cross with the lengths of dough on top of eggs to hold them in place.

Brush the bread with the beaten egg.

Bake at 425 F until golden brown

Great served as a dessert with a shot of Port wine after a meal. Or serve with tea or coffee.