Ingredients

• ½ cup milk, heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit

• ⅓ cup sugar

• 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast

• Zest of 1 large orange

• ½ teaspoon anise seed

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 3 ½ to 4 cups flour

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled slightly

• 6 raw dyed eggs

• Rainbow nonpareils

Egg wash

• 1 egg

• 1 tablespoon water

Steps

1. In a bowl of a stand mixer, pour in ½ cup of warm milk, ⅓ cup of sugar, and 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast and let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes

2. Add 2 eggs to the mixer and beat to combine

3. Add the zest of 1 large orange, ½ teaspoon of anise seed, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixer and beat again

4. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and gradually add in the flour, a little at a time, using the dough hook attachment to knead the dough until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl

5. After all the flour has been incorporated, pour in the melted butter and knead again until the butter is thoroughly mixed in

6. Lightly flour the counter and turn out the dough to shape into a round ball

7. Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl

8. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel or some plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm spot for 1 ½ hours or until the dough has doubled in size

9. After the dough has risen, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and punch it down

10. Divide the dough into 12 equal sections

11. Roll each piece of dough into a long rope, about 12 inches long

12. Take 2 rolled logs and press the ends together and fold one rope over the other to create a twist

13. Shape this twist into a ring and pinch the ends of the dough together to secure

14. Continue forming these little nests of twisted dough until 6 rings have been shaped

15. Place the dough rings on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

16. Beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water to form an egg wash

17. Brush the egg wash all over the top and sides of the twisted dough rings

18. Lightly cover the egg washed dough rings with some aluminum foil and let rise for an additional 45 minutes

19. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

20. Uncover the dough rings and brush with another layer of egg wash

21. Place 1 raw dyed egg in the center of each ring

22. Sprinkle the rings with some rainbow nonpareils

23. Bake the breads in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until the top of the bread is golden brown

24. Remove the bread from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes

25. Enjoy your flavorful Easter bread with a baked ‘hard-boiled’ egg

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