Italian Easter Bread Basket Recipe

Ingredients:  8 cups flour

                   8 tsp baking powder

                   1 cup sugar

                   6 eggs, well beaten

                   1/2 tsp salt                            

                   1 1/2 cups melted butter

                   1 1/2 cups milk

                   1 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

                  

 

Have a dozen white raw eggs colored beforehand.  Set aside.

 

Procedure:  mix all dry ingredients, make a well in the middle, add milk, eggs, vanilla, and butter ( make sure to add butter last).  Mix with hands, form a ball, cover with a bowl or something similar and let rest about 5 minutes.  Knead for 5 minutes.  Form some of the dough into basket shape.  Take 2 long strips and weave into handles.  Press raw colored eggs into center of basket and secure with strips of dough.  Secure handles with wooden toothpicks.

    

              Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour. Bake on cookie sheets covered in foil. Makes 10 to 12 Baskets.  Recipe may be cut in half if desired.

              As soon as out of oven, glaze with powdered sugar mixed with a little water and a drop of vanilla extract. Add water a few drops at a time as not much is needed.  Add more powered sugar if too runny.  Make glaze while cooking baskets so it will be ready to use as soon as baskets are out of oven.  Sprinke with nonpareils. Set aside to cool on racks.

 

              These are delicious with morning coffee or tea.