Tsoureki (Traditional Greek Easter Bread)

• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp mahlepi (mahleb)
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar
• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• 6 None eggs
• 7 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup milk

1. Bring 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add to large mixer bowl with orange juice and sugar.
2. Combine the flour, salt, mahlepi, vanilla sugar and dry yeast in a bowl. Add to the mixer at low speed.
3. Add 4 eggs. Melt butter with the milk. Gradually add to the mixer. Mix for about 20 mins.
4. Turn out the dough onto a work surface and cover with a towel. Leave it to rise and double in size.
5. Divide into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece with your hands into a long strand. Braid the strands on a baking pan. Leave it to rise and double in size.
6. Preheat the oven to 300u0b0F. Lightly beat remaining 2 eggs. Lightly brush the whole tsoureki with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired.
7. Bake about 40 mins or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

orange juice, sugar, bread flour, salt, mahlepi, vanilla sugar, active dry yeast, eggs, butter, milk

Taken from recipes-plus.com/api/v2.0/recipes/36113 (may not work)