Yeast Breads

How is Paska bread and what does Paska bread celebrate in the Easter time?

The Paska bread is a sweet dense yeast bread traditionally cooked on Easter in Ukraine, Poland and Russia. Most Slavic languages speak “Paska” as “Easter”.

This is a typical bread that is usually made of flour, sugar, eggs, butter and milk and has a delicate and soft crumb. It’s sweetened with vanilla, orange or figs, and usually decorated with symbols of hope (a cross or braid, say) for the resurrection of Christ.

Most traditions have Paska blessed in church on Holy Saturday and shared with family at a meal on Easter Sunday. And you can pair it with other typical Easter meals such as eggs, cheese, or ham. There are also variations of Paska – some sweeter, others denser, depending on local circumstances and family recipe.