Paska

Description

The traditional Ukrainian paska is a sweet and fragrant Easter bread. This popular delicacy abounds in eggs and butter, and typically has a tall cylindrical shape with a rounded top. It is often enriched with citrus juice or zest, vanilla, rum, ginger, and occasionally saffron. Some varieties of paska also might include raisins, candied fruit, or maraschino cherries. In the past, the surface of the bread was commonly decorated with festive ornaments, usually roses or crosses, but modern versions are often brightened with pristine egg-white glaze, colorful sprinkles, or poppy seeds. Outside Ukraine, this type of bread is also commonly consumed in Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. Paska is usually taken to church on Easter morning, where it is blessed, and later shared at home among family members.