Mennonite Paska — Soft citrus-scented rolls with buttercream icing
4
Units:
Prep: 30 min Cook: 20 min
Dough
- 2 tbsp active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm water
- 2 cup warm whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp fine salt
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 whole orange, quartered and seeded
- 1 whole lemon, quartered and seeded
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 8 cup all-purpose flour
Buttercream icing
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp whole milk or cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- rainbow sprinkles
A slightly sweet, pillowy bread with a distinctive citrus note from whole blended orange and lemon worked into the dough. Shaped into small round rolls, generously topped with fluffy buttercream and rainbow sprinkles, this is a beloved Easter tradition in Mennonite communities descended from Ukrainian and Russian settlers.
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Dissolve yeast in the warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let sit 10 min until frothy.
- Blend citrus: In a blender, puree the whole orange and whole lemon (peel and all) with 1/2 cup of the warm milk until smooth.
- Mix dough: Combine remaining milk, sugar, salt, beaten eggs, citrus puree, melted butter, and yeast mixture in a large bowl. Add flour gradually, 2 cups at a time, until a soft dough forms. Knead 8-10 min until smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Cover and rise in a warm place 1.5 hr until doubled.
- Punch down: Punch the dough down and rise another 30 min.
- Shape rolls: Divide into about 20 pieces. Shape into smooth rounds and place on greased baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Cover and rise 2 hr until puffy and nearly doubled.
- Bake: Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 15-20 min until golden on top. Do not overbake — these should stay soft.
- Ice: Beat softened butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until fluffy. Spread generously over completely cooled rolls. Top with rainbow sprinkles.
Tips
- Blending whole citrus fruit (peel included) is the signature move — it gives a fragrant, slightly bitter depth that extracts alone cannot match.
- Rainbow sprinkles are non-negotiable in Mennonite tradition.
- The rolls freeze beautifully before icing; thaw, ice, and serve for a quick Easter morning.
- Dough can also be shaped into loaves; increase baking time to 25-30 min.
- One batch yields about 20 rolls.
Created: 4/4/2026, 11:31:57 PM diytraditional
Stand mixer or large mixing bowl, blender, baking sheets, mixing bowls