This Bread Machine Easter Bread Recipe is made with a slightly sweetened dough made in a bread machine, then shaped into a traditional braid and stuffed with dyed eggs.
Let me help you take the fear out of working with yeast and show you how to use your bread machine to create a new family tradition this spring.
Discover delicious twists on traditional Easter Bread Recipes that are perfect for your holiday table!
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While Easter bread may be an Italian family tradition, I'm sure my grandmother never thought I would make the dough using a bread machine!
Which is what I did this year. Two years ago I used frozen bread dough to make my Individual Italian Easter Bread Rings. Which worked out great, so I thought how could I make this old recipe even easier?
And that's when I thought of using my bread machine to make the dough!
Table of Contents
- Easter Bread Glaze
- Looking for help with Easter Preparation?
- What is the Meaning of Easter Bread?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- How to Form the Easter Braid
- Allow the Braided Bead to Rise
- Dye the Easter Eggs
- Brush the Bread with an Egg Wash
- Baking Instructions
- Add the Easter Eggs
- Prepare the Glaze
- Add the Sprinkles
- Before You Begin!
- Pro Tips for Soft, Flavorful Easter Bread
- Recipe FAQ's
- Storing, Freezing and Reheating Tips
- More Bread Recipes to Love
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Easter Bread Glaze
While some prefer a classic, unglazed look to their Easter bread, this quick and delicious glaze adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful sheen. It's flavored with almond extract, but feel free to customize it with vanilla or even lemon extract for a citrusy twist. It's a simple way to personalize your Easter bread and take it to the next level!
Looking for help with Easter Preparation?
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What is the Meaning of Easter Bread?
Easter bread is full of meaning. It starts with using yeast as the leavening agent to symbolize the Christ’s resurrection from the tomb.
When Easter Bread is shaped into a wreath it symbolizes the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion. Other breads that are shaped into a braid represent the three elements of the Holy Trinity.
Placing eggs in the center of the bread braids, represents rebirth and Christ rising from the dead.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
More InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore Information
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- Warm Milk – heat the milk in the microwave in 30 second intervals until it reaches 100 to 105 degrees.
- Oil – I used vegetable oil.
- Egg and egg whites – this keeps the dough from getting dense.
- Sugar – this is a slightly sweet dough recipe.
- Flour
- Salt – for flavor.
- Yeast – make sure it's bread machine yeast that's specially formulated for the bread machine and becomes active more quickly than active dry yeast.
- Hard boiled eggs - you'll need at least 4 or 5 hard boiled eggs depending on how long the loaf of bread is. I used 4 eggs for my loaf, but probably could have fit an extra egg in at the bottom. I do not bake the bread with the eggs like a traditional Easter bread recipe. If you do that, you'll need to use raw colored eggs.
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
- Almond Extract - if you don't like the flavor of almond extract, you can substitute vanilla extract.
- Sprinkles
Step-by-Step Instructions
When preparing dough in a bread machine it's very important to add the ingredients exactly as listed in the recipe. Check the instructions for your bread machine. You do not need to proof the yeast either.
Remember, the bread does not bake in the bread machine. We are only using the dough setting. If your machine does not have a dough setting, you will need to stop the machine after the first rise.
Step 1: Start by pouring the warm milk, oil, beaten egg and egg whites, and sugar into the bread machine pan. Gently add the flour and salt, then sprinkle the yeast on top. Set your machine to the dough cycle, press start, and let it do its magic!
Step 2: Your bread machine should beep when the dough is finished.
Step 3: Transfer the dough from the bread machine to a lightly floured surface. Notice how beautiful and pliable it is! With just a few gentle kneads, shape it into a large, round ball.
How to Form the Easter Braid
Step 4: Divide the dough into three equal pieces. Shape each piece into a long rope. Braid the ropes together, then tuck the ends underneath.
Allow the Braided Bead to Rise
Step 5: Here's a trick to prevent egg dye from bleeding in your Easter bread! Instead of using real eggs during the rise, try "temporary eggs" made from aluminum foil. Once you've shaped the dough, cover it and let it rise for another hour, or until doubled in size.
Dye the Easter Eggs
Step 6: While the bread is rising, dye the hard boiled eggs. I used a traditional box of egg dye, but you can dye your eggs naturally or use food coloring to dye Easter eggs!
Brush the Bread with an Egg Wash
Step 7: Whisk together one egg and 2 teaspoons of water to create an egg wash. Brush the egg wash over the doubled dough for a beautiful golden finish.
Baking Instructions
Step 8: Bake the risen dough in your preheated 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes. Keep an eye on it and remove it when golden brown.
Add the Easter Eggs
Step 9: Once the bread is baked, carefully remove the aluminum foil. Gently nestle the dyed eggs into the spaces within the loaf.
Prepare the Glaze
Step 10: Mix the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Carefully drizzle the glaze over the bread, avoiding the colorful eggs.
Add the Sprinkles
Step 11: The glaze dries fast, so sprinkle on those decorations right away!
Before You Begin!
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Pro Tips for Soft, Flavorful Easter Bread
Check the dough early in the cycle: About 5–10 minutes into the kneading process, open the lid and check the dough. It should form a smooth, slightly tacky ball.
- Too dry/crumbly? Add 1 tablespoon of warm milk at a time.
- Too wet/sticky? Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time.
Room-temperature ingredients help: Cold milk or eggs can slow down yeast activity. Let ingredients come to room temp for more consistent results.
Glaze: Some enjoy their Easter bread plain, but I like to add this quick almond glaze. It adds a hint of sweetness and a beautiful shine. Prefer a twist? Try vanilla or lemon extract to make it your own.
Serving tips: Place the bread on a serving platter and decorate it if you'd like — in our family, it's a tradition to have it on display as part of our Easter celebration. I love setting the table for Easter brunch after church and using the bread as a beautiful, meaningful centerpiece.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Yes, you can use regular all-purpose flour in the bread machine.
Most bread machines dough cycle is 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating Tips
Room Temperature: Let the bread cool completely before storing. Remove the hard boiled eggs from the loaf and store them separately. Then wrap the bread in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and leave it at room temperature.
Refrigerator: If you want to keep the bread fresh for longer, refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to a week.
Freezer: To freeze your Easter bread, I like to slice it first for easy thawing. Wrap the slices or loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then add a layer of aluminum foil to protect from freezer burn. Label and date the package, and it will stay good for up to two months.
Thawing and Reheating: Thaw frozen slices on the counter or pop them directly in the toaster for a warm, fresh-baked taste.
More Bread Recipes to Love
📖 Recipe Card
Bread Machine Easter Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm milk
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 egg and 2 egg whites
- ½ cup sugar
- 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons bread machine yeast
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Easter sprinkles
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons water
Equipment
Method
- Place all the ingredients for the dough inside the bread machine in the order they are listed.
- Turn the bread machine on to the dough only cycle.
- After the cycle is completed, remove the dough and place on a lightly floured surface.
- Knead the dough just a few times to get it into the shape of a large round ball.
- Divide the dough into three pieces. Then form each piece into a long ropes and start braiding them. Make sure you tuck both ends under when the braid is done.
- Place“temporary eggs” or aluminum foil to place in the bread rings while the dough rises. Cover the dough with a clean dish cloth and allow it to rise for another hour or until it’s doubled in size.
- While the bread is rising, dye the hard boiled eggs. I used a traditional box of egg dye, but you can dye your eggs naturally if you prefer. Set aside to dry completely while the bread bakes.
- After the dough has doubled in size, brush the loaf with an egg wash of one beaten egg and 2 teaspoons water.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Gently remove the aluminum foil from the baked loaf of bread and gently add the dyed eggs into the spaces where the aluminum foil was.
- Combine the ingredients for the glaze together in a small bowl. Drizzle the glaze on top of the baked bread trying not to get it on the eggs.
- Add the sprinkles on top of the glaze.
Nutrition
Notes
-
- Too dry/crumbly? Add 1 tablespoon of warm milk at a time.
-
- Too wet/sticky? Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time.
jordi says
This was a simple recipe to make but I did split the dough into 6 and make two loaves otherwise one would have been massive.
Lois says
That’s a great idea—this recipe really does make a generous loaf! Splitting the dough into two loaves is perfect, especially if you want to share one with a friend or neighbor. Thanks so much for sharing how it worked for you and for the 5 star review!
Susan says
If i wanted to leave the dough in the bread machine (and not braid it) and let it bake in the machine, would it bake properly? Or does it have to be removed and baked in the oven?
Lois says
Hi! Great question. Technically, you could leave the dough in the bread machine and let it bake there, but the loaf won’t turn out quite the same. Bread machines bake at a lower temperature and produce a tall rectangular loaf, so the texture and crust are usually not as nice as when it’s baked in the oven.
For this Easter bread recipe, I recommend using the dough cycle only, then removing the dough to braid it and bake it in the oven. That step helps give the bread its traditional shape and a softer texture.
After the bread has baked and cooled slightly, the colored hard-boiled eggs are added to the braided loaf for decoration.
If you baked it in the machine, it would still be edible, but you’d miss the braided look that makes it special for Easter. Let me know if you try it!
Susan says
I took a leap of faith and braided it and baked it in the oven following your recipe. So glad I did! Huge success! It turned out beautifully and was so delicious! I plan to make it again (and again) Thank you very much!
Lois says
Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and share this! I love that you took a leap of faith and braided it. So happy it turned out beautifully for you. Enjoy every slice, especially if you’re making it again!