Grandma's Easter Bread

1 . Stage

Combine 5 cups flour, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, Romano cheese, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; stir well and set aside.

2 . Stage

Stir warm water and yeast together in a small bowl. Set aside until dissolved and bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.

3 . Stage

Zest and juice orange into a large bowl. Stir in melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined. Stir in yeast mixture. Add flour mixture gradually, stirring as you go.

4 . Stage

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, adding up to 1 extra cup of flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 30 to 60 minutes.

5 . Stage

Punch dough down, cover and let rise again until almost doubled in size, 30 to 60 minutes.

6 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease two 8-inch round loaf pans.

7 . Stage

Cut dough into 2 equal pieces and shape into loaves. Place in the prepared pans, cover, and let rise again until almost doubled in size, 30 to 60 minutes.

8 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cook on a wire rack.