What You'll Need
- 4 cups flour, plus extra for working
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup sugar
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- ½ cup shortening or unsalted butter
- 5 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest and juice of 1 orange or lemon
- Nonpareil rainbow sprinkles
What You'll Do
- Preheat oven to 425º.
- Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon into large bowl. Break up shortening and work into dry mix with hands until little pebbles form. Add 4 eggs, vanilla, orange zest and juice. Mix with a wooden spoon, then finish with hands as needed until dough comes together.
- On a floured surface, knead dough for 10 minutes until shiny and smooth. Place dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a towel, and let rest for 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, cut dough into thirds and roll each third into a long log. Crumple a sheet of parchment paper, then lay it flat on a baking tray. Line logs of dough next to each other on the parchment and wrap them into a braid.
- Beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water and brush the top of braid, then gleefully shower with rainbow sprinkles. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
- If your bread is getting to brown on the outside, tent it loosely with foil while it finishes baking.
- Let cool completely.
- I love eating a slice of this bread toasted with butter early in the morning with a cup of coffee and a smile on my face.