Joyce's Fantastic Lemon Easter Bread

Ingredients

• 0.75 cups warm water , 100 degrees F/38 degrees C
• 2 tablespoons warm water , 100 degrees F/38 degrees C
• 2 tablespoons butter , softened
• 2 large eggs , room temperature
• 2 tablespoons lemon extract
• 3.5 cups bread flour
• 0.5 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

Instructions

1. 1

   Grease three 8-inch round cake pans; set aside.

2. 2

   Place ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water, butter, eggs, lemon extract, bread flour, sugar, and yeast into a bread machine in the order listed, or follow the order recommended by the manufacturer if different. Run Dough cycle. Remove dough from the machine when the cycle is done.

3. 3

   Cut dough into 3 equal-sized pieces; roll each piece into a ball and place into a prepared cake pan. Cover dough balls; let rise at room temperature for 1 hour.

4. 4

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

5. 5

   Bake loaves in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.