Name: Kulich (Russian Easter Bread)
Yield: Makes 2 loaves
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup sugar plus a pinch; 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter; Pinch of saffron threads, crumbled; 2 teaspoons salt; 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (from a 1/4-oz package); 1/4 cup lukewarm water (105–115°F); 6 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting; 4 large eggs; 2 (5- to 6-cup) soufflé dishes or 2 (2-pound) cleaned empty coffee cans

Photo by Anna Williams

A cross between brioche and challah, this bread is a lightly sweetened, egg-glazed cylinder, often baked in a coffee can to make a tall loaf. The kulich would sit proudly in the center of the family Easter basket, surrounded by meats, cheeses, butter, and eggs. It's a central part of the Easter meal, served with sweet paskha cheese or unsalted butter.

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