SWEET ITALIAN HOLIDAY BREAD

This is authentic ciambellotto, a sweet loaf my great-grandmother used to bake in Italy. I still use her traditional recipe.

—Denise Perrin, Vancouver, WA

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 45 min. Makes: 1 loaf (20 slices)

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. grated orange zest
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• ½ cup 2% milk
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 Tbsp. coarse sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, orange zest and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk and oil until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened.

2. Shape into a 6-in. round loaf on a greased baking sheet. Brush top with the egg yolk; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cover top loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove from pan to a wire rack; serve warm.

1 slice: 197 cal., 7g fat (1g sat. fat), 38mg chol., 87mg sod., 30g carb. (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g pro.