Italian Easter Dove Bread [Colomba Pasquale] is a soft, sweet panettone (Italian sweet bread) made in the shape of a dove. Traditionally served on Easter Sunday.
In a glass measuring cup, whisk eggs and egg yolk with enough milk to make exactly 1 ½ cups of liquid. Pour into bread machine or mixer.
Add flour, sugar, salt, butter, softened butter, orange zest, and anise in that order. Make a small indentation in the top and add the yeast.
Set the bread machine to the Dough cycle. When it beeps to add additional ingredients, add the craisins and golden raisins. If your bread machine doesn’t have this feature, just add the craisins and raisins after the dough is thoroughly mixed, but before it completes the kneading process.
When the dough process is complete, turn the dough out onto your countertop, cover with a clean cloth and let it rest another 5 minutes.
Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.
Shape the Dove:
On a lightly floured board, roll dough into a 10"x8" rectangle. Cut into two 10"x4" rectangles.
Place one rectangle on the prepared baking sheet, and pinch middle to make wings.
On the second rectangle, pinch for head and body.Cut seven 2 inch slashes for tail and fan out.
Place the body piece over the wings.Cut two 2 inch slashes for each wing and fan.
Cover and let Dove rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Bake the Dove:
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine egg white and water and brush onto dove. Place almonds on feathers as shown.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Notes
You can also make the dough by hand. Just mix it up in your mixer, knead it as you would any bread dough, and let rise once before shaping.