Tsoureki in a Bread Machine

Ingredients

• 9 grams dried yeast
• 1/3 cup lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 4 1/2 cups bakers flour
• 10 grams mahlepi
• 1/3 cup milk
• 3 x 59g free range eggs lightly whisked
• 1/2 of 1 orange juiced, rind grated
• 125 grams butter melted

To Brush

• 1 x 59g free range egg lightly whisked

Directions

1. Place the yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar and water into the bread maker bread bin. Stir gently and allow to stand for 8 minutes.
2. Add the flour, mahlepi, milk, egg, orange juice and rind, butter and remaining sugar. Set the bread maker to dough and press start.
3. Preheat a fan forced oven to 170°C. Line a baking tray with canola oil spray and then baking paper.
4. Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 3 pieces. Roll into 30cm sausage shaped strips and pinch them all at one end. Braid the bread by folding the rolls over each other to form 3 cross overs. Secure at the other end with the same pinching motion. Turn dough to make a perfect circle and place onto the baking tray.
5. Make 3 coloured eggs and push three of them into three different places in the braid. Set aside to rise for 20 minutes.
6. Brush with egg and place into the oven to bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.