German Easter Bread

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This is a German Easter Bunny Breakfast Rolls made from Yeast Dough also known as - Osterhasen aus Hefeteig.

This sweet roll dough can be shaped easily and is not limited to rabbits. It's especially good on Easter morning for family brunch or to decorate the Easter table. After you make the dough, your children can get in on the action, with very little mess they can roll the dough and decorate the bunnies. This would be a perfect activity for a group of kids, each one can make their own.

Ingredients:

3 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/4 tsp. instant yeast

1/2 c. softened butter or margarine

1/2 c. plus 2 T. (5 oz.) lukewarm milk

1/2 c. quark or yogurt cheese

1 egg, separated

Sesame seeds, sunflower seeds or nuts for decoration

Procedure:

1. Mix the flour, sugar, salt and instant yeast in a bowl. 

2. Use a dough hook on a mixer or a large spoon to mix in the milk, butter and quark. 

3. Knead 1-2 minutes, form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for one hour. 

4. Dough will rise slightly but not double because it's very rich. 

Tip: You may also make the dough the night before and stick it in the refrigerator until morning. Let it come to room temperature and then shape as follows:

To Shape:

5. Take the dough ball and knead with very little or no flour for 1-2 minutes. The gluten will still not form well, but the dough is easy to shape. 

6. Divide the dough into 6 pieces for 6 bunnies. 

7. Divide each piece again 2/3 to 1/3. 

8. From the larger piece, roll a rope about a foot long. Break off a bit for the tail and shape into a ball. 

9. Coil the rope into a bun and place on a baking sheet. 

10. Form an egg shape with the middle sized piece of dough. 

11. Using kitchen shears, snip the pointy end halfway down the middle to form ears. 

12. Affix the head and the tail with a little of the egg white to the body. Let rise in a warm place.

13. Preheat oven to 350°F.

To Decorate:

1. Mix the egg yolk with 2 teaspoons of water and brush it over the bun-nies. Decorate with seeds for whiskers, nose/eyes and tail. I don't recommend dried fruit because it burns.

2. Bake at 350°F for 25 - 30 minutes, or until bunnies are golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from oven, cool slightly, then remove to a rack and cool completely.

3. Serve with butter.

Tip Tip: Because of the butter in the dough, kids can roll and shape these bunnies easily but won't get flour all over the kitchen. Put them in an apron, though or they will wipe their hands on their good clothes!