Polish Easter Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
• 2 teaspoons orange peel, grated
• 1 teaspoon lemon peel, grated
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
• 1 cup golden raisin

Directions

1. 1

   Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until blended.

2. 2

   Beat in egg yolks until well blended.

3. 3

   Dissolve yeast in warm water.

4. 4

   Stir yeast mixture, orange peel, lemon peel, cinnamon and salt into butter mixture.

5. 5

   Stir in flour alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition, until soft dough forms.

6. 6

   Stir in raisins.

7. 7

   Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1 1/2 hours.

8. 8

   Stir down dough; spoon into greased and floured10 x 4-inch tube pan or 12 cup bundt cake pan.

9. 9

   Cover; let rise until double, about 1 hour.

10. 10

    Heat oven to 350 degreesF

11. 11

    Bake until bread is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.

12. 12

    Cool 5 minutes.

13. 13

    Remove from pan; cool completely.

14. 14

    Sprinkle with confectioners sugar if desired.