Paska Ornamentation
This is the continuation of our Simple Paska tutorial, and requires dough from that recipe.
Paska, Ukrainian Easter bread, is round in shape. The Paska is blessed in the family basket and shared once a year at the family Easter table. The intricately decorated top of the Paska is symbolic. The ornaments are connected to spring.
In this guide we feature twisted ropes and crosses. They all symbolize something different for the coming year. The twisted rope symbolizes eternity. The curls and coils symbolize the cross.
Ornament the Paska guide is a continuation to the Easter Paska guide, a go to resource for your Paska dough recipe, techniques and tips.
Make the Ornament Dough
Ingredients for the dough
2 cups paska dough
2 cups flour
1 cup warm water
Equipment
Kitchen Aid mixer, dough hook
Honey stick
Small knife
Scissors
small knife
Step 1: Prepare the Ornament Dough
in a 5-quart Kitchen Aid mixing bowl fitted with a dough hook, add the previously reserved paska dough and flour
mix on low speed, slowly adding the water
knead 8-10 minutes
transfer to a lightly oiled bowl
rub the ball of dough with more oil to prevent drying.
cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.
Step 2: Shaping the Paska top for decorations
for the round paska, hold the portioned dough and pull sides under the dough
smooth top facing up
flatten dough in can, brush with egg glaze (see the simple paska guide), to prevent drying of the dough
allow the Paska to rise 2/3rds
Proceed with either the Twisted Rope or Curls and Coils instructions below.
Twisted Rope Ornament
Step 3: Portion the Dough
cut 2 small portions of dough into equal pieces
roll each piece into 16” lengths
Step 4: Forming the Rope of Dough
roll each piece of dough into double the length of the baking can
roll from the centre out
both pieces should be equal in length
if dough is sticky, dust with flour
Step 5: Forming the Rope Twist
place the two ropes of dough in an X pattern
start at the centre, overlap the dough, working towards the end, pinch the end tips
continue with the other side, pinch the end tips
Step 6: Placing the Rope Twist
brush the top of the paska with the egg glaze
Place the twisted rope dough along the perimeter of the paska top
tuck the ends in
brush the twisted rope with egg glaze (see the simple paska guide)
Step 7: Making the Double Rope Twist
repeat steps 3, 4 & 5
brush top of paska with egg glaze
proceed to continue laying the twisted rope in a spiral motion, covering the rest of the Paska working towards the centre
with scissors, snip excess rope
brush egg glaze once again to ensure the twisted rope adheres
Step 8: Baking the Paska
Glaze the paska with egg glaze and bake as per instructions in the Simple Paska Tutorial Step 5.
Coils and Curls Ornaments
Step 3: Shaping Noodle-Like Strand into Curls
roll out a thin piece of noodle-like strand
at one end of the dough with a honey stick proceed to carefully coil the dough strand towards you creating a small curl
proceed with the other end curling the dough away from you
place curled strand on top of the egg glazed Paska
Step 4: Shaping Coils
using the same method continue with the other noodle-like strand
place curled strand on top of egg glazed paska
brush egg glaze over and around the cross
STEP 5: Embellishing the Top of the Paska
Use a honey stick to guide the thin noodle strand into a tight coil. Stop halfway down the noodle
place the honey stick at the opposite end, allow the stick to guide you into a tight coil in the opposite direction
gently lift coil onto egg glazed paska top
Step 6: Reapplying the Egg Glaze
Brush glaze from the Simple Paska tutorial over the coils, this acts as a glue and place over the Paska
apply egg glaze once again to secure the ornaments
Step 7: Baking
Bake as per instructions in the Simple Paska Tutorial Step 5.
Enjoy your Easter!
- Slava & Sonia
