Tsoureki

Takes 335 minutes | Serves 16 |

Ingredients

25 g dry yeast
110 g lukewarm water
10 g ground mahleb
135 g butter
230 g sugar
150 ml milk
4 units medium eggs
870 g flour
1 zest orange zest
1 unit egg for garnish
1 tbsp water for garnish
some to taste almond slivers for garnish
150 g sugar for syrup
150 g water for syrup

Steps

Preparing the Dough

• Combine lukewarm water, a pinch of sugar, and yeast. Let it rise until bubbly.
• Ground mastic and mahleb with a pinch of sugar.
• Melt butter with sugar and milk on very low heat. Let cool to lukewarm.
• Whisk in eggs to the butter mixture, add the yeast mixture, and combine.
• Mix flour, ground spices, orange zest, and the liquid mixture with a dough hook on medium-high speed for about 15 minutes until the dough is soft and slightly sticky. Let it double in size in a warm place.

Shaping and Baking

• Gently deflate the dough, divide into 6 portions, and form each into a rope. Braid three ropes together to form each bread.
• Let the braids rise until puffed up. Brush with egg wash, garnish with almond slivers, and bake at 150C fan for 30-40 minutes.

Finishing Touches

• Optionally, prepare syrup by boiling sugar and water and ladle over the hot bread for extra gloss and sweetness.