Pasca – Romanian Easter Bread

Pasca is a traditional Romanian Easter bread that is typically made during Holy Week and served on Easter Sunday. It is a rich, sweet bread with a mixture of cheese, eggs, and raisin filling. The bread is usually round and is often decorated with a cross. 

Pasca is a beloved Easter tradition in Romania, and it is often shared with family and friends during Easter celebrations. It is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ and the joy of new beginnings.

Pasca is actually a cheesecake made with a sweet yeast dough crust. For the cheese filling, Pasca is usually made with local fresh cheese similar to farmer’s cheese or cottage cheese. You can also use ricotta cheese or cream cheese instead.

How to make Pasca – Romanian Easter Bread

To make Pasca, first, make the dough by activating yeast in milk, then adding flour, sugar, salt, lemon zest, milk, egg, butter, and vanilla extract. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes and let it rest for an hour or until doubled in size. On a lightly floured surface, cut ⅓ of the dough for the base. From the remaining dough cut another 1/3 for the cross. The remaining dough, the larger part is for the braid. 

How to assemble Pasca

Take the dough for the base, and roll in until 10 inches (26cm) in diameter. Place it on the bottom of a greased pan. 

Take the dough for the braid and divide it in two equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, until about 31 inches (80cm) long. Start braiding the two ropes, starting from the middle. Place the braid around the inside edge of the pan.

Roll and braid the remaining dough for the cross, shape the cross and set it aside. 

Prepare the cheese filling by mixing the cheese with sour cream, sugar, salt, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Incorporate eggs, one at a time, and add semolina/flour, and raisins/cranberries (if using). Pour the cheese filling into the center. 

Place the cross on top of the cheese filling and brush the cross and brush with beaten egg. Preheat the oven to 320F (160C) and bake the pasca for 40-50 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Let it cool completely before serving, for at least 4-6 hours. 

This traditional sweet bread, with its soft and fluffy texture and unique taste, is a delight to the senses and is perfect for sharing with family and friends during this important holiday. By making Pasca at home, you can experience the joy of creating something special and meaningful for yourself and your loved ones. So why not try making Pasca this Easter and discover a new tradition that you can enjoy for years to come? If you do, make sure to share the photos with me on Instagram as I love seeing how it turns out for you. Happy Easter everyone! 

Other Easter recipes you may like to try.

These Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are delicious spicy sweet buns with a cross on top, traditionally eaten on Good Friday. They are made with chocolate and raisins and are flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. This Strawberry Easter Cake is a delicious and colorful cake consisting of layers of strawberry sponge cake, fresh strawberries, and white chocolate strawberry frosting. With a chocolate nest decoration, it is a perfect dessert for Easter celebrations. This Easter Bunny Coconut Cream Tart is a cute and delightful dessert made with two layers of shortbread dough, filled with a creamy coconut filling, and decorated in Easter spirit. 

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