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Ukrainian Bread Doves in an Easter basket with candle
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🕊️Ukrainian Easter Bread Doves Recipe (Holuby)

Learn how to make Ukrainian Easter Bread Doves (Holuby) with this easy to follow tutorial (with recipe) ! These cute edible ornamental doves are used to decorate Ukrainian Easter Baskets, Ukrainian Easter bread, Korovai (wedding bread) and symbolize spring.
Course Dessert, Edible decoration
Cuisine Ukrainian
Keyword bread, doves, Easter, ornamental, Ukrainian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
rising time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 30 doves
Calories 51kcal
Author Terri Gilson

Ingredients

Egg Wash:

  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 teaspoon water or milk
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Combine the first 5 ingredients. Add one cup flour. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
  • Add another two cups flour. Knead by hand on a floured surface.
  • If more flour is needed, add a little at a time. The dough should be thick, like play dough.
    Dough on cutting board
  • Roll out the dough into snakes about the thickness of a finger; cut into 2 -  4 inch sections.
    Thickness of dough compared to finger
  • Place one strip horizontally on your work surface; lay another strip on top like a cross
    Dough in 2 strips shaped like a cross
  • Pull the arm of the strip beneath up and cross to the opposite side. 
  • Now pull the other (left) side across (left side becomes right, right side becomes left)
    the other side of the dough cross is pulled across to opposite side
  • Flatten and shape slightly as for wings, then use a plastic or regular knife to cut little feathers into tail
    plastic knife being used to cut feathers into tail of dove
  • Using the other (non-cutting side) of the knife blade, press feather impressions into wings
    other (non-cutting side) of knife being used to make feather impressions in wings
  • Shape one end of the straight strip of dough like a head (pinch for a beak)
    fingers being used to form head into beak
  • Add a poppy seed or piece of a currant for eyes (I used pieces of currants- not the entire currant)
    Currant piece is added to the dove for an eye
  • Let rise for 5 minutes, then place the doves in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.
    bread doves on parchment lined baking sheet
  • Remove and brush with the beaten egg, which has been diluted with 1 teaspoon of water
    doves on parchment brushed with egg wash
  • Return to the oven for another 10 minutes.
  • Remove from oven. Cool for 5 minutes.
  • Insert a toothpick on the bottom of each dove to enable insertion into decorative ritual breads (see photos in post).

Notes

 *Note: I make mine quite large, but they can be made smaller
**Note: These directions can be copied and handed out if doing this with kids
3 step directions on how to make a Ukrainian Easter Dove
My Amazon Recommendations (affiliate links)

Nutrition Facts
🕊️Ukrainian Easter Bread Doves Recipe (Holuby)
Amount Per Serving (1 dove)
Calories 51 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 5mg0%
Potassium 17mg0%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 16IU0%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1dove | Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg