Easter Bread Kulich Cruffin

Recipe Makes: 2 large loafs or 4 small loafs

Prep Time: 2 hrs 45 min

Cook Time: 45 min

Total Time: around 3 hrs 30 min

INGREDIENTS FOR DOUGH:

2 cups milk; warm 100-115F

1 tbsp instant yeast

½ cup granulated sugar

7 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 ½ tbsp corn oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups dried fruit; I used apricot and plum

¼ cup unsalted butter; melted

INGREDIENTS FOR CRUMB TOPPINGS:

½ cup all purpose flour

½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup unsalted butter; softened

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whisk together milk and yeast in a bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit for 5-7 min for the yeast to activate.
2. Next whisk in the eggs, corn oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until well incorporated. Then add in the sugar and salt. Once mixed in add 1 cup of flour at a time to the dough. You might need to mix it with your hands a little at the end.
3. Once the dough is mixed (it will be slightly sticky) cover the bowl with clear wrap and let sit in a warm place for at least an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
4. While the dough is rising make the crumb topping. Mix together the butter, flour, and sugar until it’s well combined and set aside. Slice up the dried fruit if it is something on the bigger side.
5. On a well floured surface dump the dough out and knead it into a ball. Split the dough in half.
6. Roll out the dough ball so it makes a large rectangle that is around 1/4 inch thick, or almost see through.
7. Spread half of the melted butter onto the rolled out dough, and then spread half of the crumb topping and dried fruit. (Make sure you save enough for the next dough ball.)
8. Tightly roll up the dough from the smaller side, so it would make a long log. Let rest while you work on the other dough ball.
9. Take the dough roll and cut in half going the long way (look down at the pictures). Next it’s time to roll up the dough. When rolling make sure the cut side is always on top. Start from the center and move to the outside, once you have a small base start rolling the dough up and tuck the end piece under the dough so it doesn’t stick out. Repeat for the other dough log.
10. Carefully place 2 kulich rolls into a panettone paper bread mold (Easter Bread paper mold). Let them sit and rise for 1 hr.
11. Preheat the oven to 350 f. Bake the kulich rolls for 15 or so minutes uncovered and once the tops become golden brown cover with foil and bake for another 20 minutes.
12. Take out of the oven and let cool. Take the rolls out of the paper mold and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

Gather all ingredients.

Whisk together milk and yeast in a bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit for 5-7 min for the yeast to activate. Next whisk in the eggs, corn oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until well incorporated. Then add in the sugar and salt. Once mixed in add 1 cup of flour at a time to the dough. You might need to mix it with your hands a little at the end. Once the dough is mixed (it will be slightly sticky) cover the bowl with clear wrap and let sit in a warm place for at least an hour or until the dough has doubled in size. While the dough is rising make the crumb topping. Mix together the butter, flour, and sugar until it’s well combined and set aside. Slice up the dried fruit if it is something on the bigger side.

On a well floured surface dump the dough out and knead it into a ball. Split the dough in half. Roll out the dough ball so it makes a large rectangle that is around 1/4 inch thick, or almost see through. Spread half of the melted butter onto the rolled out dough, and then spread half of the crumb topping and dried fruit. (Make sure you save enough for the next dough ball.) Tightly roll up the dough from the smaller side, so it would make a long log. Let rest while you work on the other dough ball.

Take the dough roll and cut in half going the long way (look down at the pictures). Next it’s time to roll up the dough. When rolling make sure the cut side is always on top. Start from the center and move to the outside, once you have a small base start rolling the dough up and tuck the end piece under the dough so it doesn’t stick out. Repeat for the other dough log.

Carefully place 2 kulich rolls into a panettone paper bread mold (Easter Bread paper mold). Let them sit and rise for 1 hr. Preheat the oven to 350 f. Bake the kulich rolls for 15 or so minutes uncovered and once the tops become golden brown cover with foil and bake for another 20 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool. Take the rolls out of the paper mold and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!