Catholic Recipe: Colomba Pasquale (Italian Easter Dove)

One traditional Easter bread in Italy is the Columba Pasquale, which is sweet bread shaped like a dove.

DIRECTIONS

Glaze: Combine all glaze ingredients; reserve.

Cake: Soften yeast in warm water. Combine brown sugar, butter, egg, egg yolk, salt in mixing bowl; add yeast. Gradually add flour to form stiff dough. Knead on floured surface 5 minutes. Add raisins, candied fruit. Knead 5 minutes until fruit evenly distributed. Divide in 2 parts, 1 slightly larger than the other. Roll out largest portion on floured board to 8 x 5-inch rectangle. Place on well-greased baking sheet, shaping into head, body, tail of dove. Divide remaining dough into 2 parts. Roll out into 2 long "wings"; place on either side of neck. Cover. Reserve to rise in warm place until double in size (about 2 1/2 hours). Brush with glaze. Bake 35-40 minutes at 325°. Yield, 1 loaf