Nancy's Portuguese Sweet Bread Ring

Portuguese sweet bread, known as "massa sovada"" is a traditional bread originating from Portugal, particularly the Azores. It’s a rich, slightly sweet, and airy bread made with simple ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and yeast. What sets this bread apart is its delicate flavor, often enhanced with a hint of citrus zest (lemon).

The dough is kneaded until soft and elastic ("sovada" means kneaded), then shaped into round loaves or braided rings, and baked to a golden brown. The result is a fluffy, tender bread with a beautiful, light sweetness. Portuguese sweet bread is often enjoyed during holidays, such as Easter, Christmas and feasts, and pairs well with butter, jam, or even as part of a meal. Its gentle sweetness and texture make it universally loved.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 5 cups of all purpose Flour
• 3 eggs
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• Baking tray size - 16 x 22

Yeast:

• 1/2 cup of lukewarm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of yeast
• 1 teaspoon of all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar

Egg wash:

• 1 egg 
• 1 tablespoon of water

Watch the video for directions.

Video Credit: DIYwithnancyg

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