An Italian Family Tradition is to make Homemade Easter Bread to celebrate the Easter holiday. It’s not that difficult to make and the kids always enjoy the colored eggs in the center of the bread. Enjoy some fresh from the oven or the day after toasted with a little butter…it’s such an amazing bread recipe!
Do you have a family tradition for Easter? For years my sister has been making Easter Bread for her family and always shares a small loaf with us to enjoy. I love Easter Bread. It’s so festive and makes such a pretty presentation and lovely gift to bring to the hostess for Easter Sunday dinner.
Last year was the first year I made it for my family and I definitely plan on making it again this year.
I’m going to try to make smaller round loaves shaped like a wreath this year with one egg in the center of each wreath. I’ll be sure to take photos and update this post soon!
The recipe I’m sharing with you is my sister’s recipe. There are quite a few recipes out there that use a sweet glaze or icing to spread over the Easter bread, but that makes it more like a dessert and not bread.
It’s really important that you use RAW colored eggs with this recipe. The eggs will cook in the oven while the bread bakes. Do not use already hard-boiled eggs. You will have a huge mess to clean up.
Easter Bread
An Italian Family Tradition
After the dough has risen once, divide into two balls.
A family tradition to celebrate Easter with this delicious bread that has colored eggs braided through the dough.
- 1 cup warm milk 105 - 115 degrees
- 1 pkg active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 5 cups flour; more if needed
- 1 cup butter melted COOLED butter
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tsp grated Lemon Zest
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
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In a small bowl, combine the heated milk with the package of dry yeast and 2 TBS. sugar. Set aside until the mixture is foamy.
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In a mixing bowl with the dough hook attached, add 4 cups of the flour along with the remaining ingredients.
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Once the yeast mixture has "proofed" add it to the mixing bowl as well and begin to combine everything together.
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If the dough becomes too sticky or wet, add more of the remaining flour.
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Once the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl and come together, set your kitchen timer for 8 minutes and let the machine "knead" the dough for you.
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Remove the dough from the mixing bowl to a floured surfaced and knead by hand for a few minutes.
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Place the dough in another clean mixing bowl that has a little bit of oil rubbed over the entire bowl.
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Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel...set aside to rise until doubled in size.
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While the dough is rising, dye 3 to 4 eggs...keeping them RAW.
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After the dough has doubled, punch it down and transfer to a floured surface.
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Divide the dough into two balls and slowly work them into long "loaves."
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Braid the two loaves into one loaf and place on a baking tray that is lined with parchment paper.
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Insert the RAW eggs into sections of the braided loaf of bread.
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Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to double again.
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Carefully brush with an egg wash of 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp. water.
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Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
You must use RAW eggs. They will cook in the oven while the bread is cooking
This sounds and looks wonderful Lois. Pinning and SU
The bread looksso goo! Thank you for the recipe!
How fun. I have never seen this before. What a cool idea. I will definitely have to give this a try.
I am so glad I stopped by from Wednesday Whatsits. I have always wondered how you managed to get the hardboiled eggs into the loaf and now I know. I can't wait to add this addition to our Easter menu. Thanks!!
I have seen lots of versions of this and keep wondering if I should try it myself. I'm stopping over from Buns in my Oven. I like your pictures. It's helpful to see how to assemble this. Pinning and I think I might try it this year! 🙂
looks yummy! i love the little eggs sticking their heads out of the bread – maybe checking if they can escape without being eaten lol 🙂
Your Easter bread looks great! I've made this bread a couple of times too, my husband's Italian side of the family makes it, so I started making it too after we got married! Happy Easter to you! 🙂
Lois, This has to be the most beautiful Easter bread ever! I think I have to make it 🙂
I love Easter bread and yours looks perfect! Checking this out from Artsy corner Thursday! Yummy!
Cathy
How creative! I love it! Just found you at the Turn for Us blog party. Thanks so much for sharing!
~Leslie
My aunt always made the Easter Bread. I never thought to try it but you make it look so easy. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe Lois. Pinned/shared.
I am going to make this tomorrow. Thank you for sharing!
Kathi
Hi! What a great Easter bread. I do a similar Portuguese Sweet Bread – so fun and delicious. Thanks for stopping by #TheWeekendSocial and linking up! I have pinned, stumbled and shared your link across social media. I hope to see you again next week!
Hi there, I've featured your Easter Bread on Worthwhile Wednesdays, http://thecraftiestallie.blogspot.com/2014/04/worthwhile-wednesdays-14.html
This bread looks so fun and festive. I have seen variations of this but never made any. What a fun Easter tradition!
Very cool!!
Your Easter Bread is truly beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to share on Wonderful Wed. blog hop. I pinned several times.
Blessings,
Diane Roark
recipesforourdailybread
ouramericantravels
Your Easter Bread is truly beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to share on Wonderful Wed. blog hop. I pinned several times.
Blessings,
Diane Roark
recipesforourdailybread
ouramericantravels
I have always wondered how to make this! Looks great! I would love for you to share this over at my new link party Making Memories Mondays going on now!
Cathy@threekidsandafish{dot}com
Wow. This looks officially FANTASTIC. I now have a bread machine and wonder if I could make something like this in it. Worth a try! Thank you. I am really pleased you linked this up with us at our linky party! Hugs, Rose, FineCraftGuild.com
I have never seen anything like this before! It's beautiful.
Dear Lois, you bread looks beautiful! I must make my own sometime. My niece is hosting Easter this year and it would so nice to bring this to her. xo, Catherine
Your bread is so beautiful! I don't think I want to wait until Easter to try this, it looks amazing.
I made yeast rolls yesterday and doing this crossed my mind. It's so cute. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Lois, this would be a great contribution to Food on Friday: Easter Foods over at Carole's Chatter. Please do bring it over. Cheers
Good Morning Lois,
We are homemade bread people and we would love this! Not to mention that it is gorgeous.
The ladies at Thoughts of Home on Thursday would love for you to join us at our party and share your time and talents with us too!
Thank you,
Jemma
http://www.athomewithjemma.com/2016/03/thoughts-of-home-on-thursday-4.html#.Vtl8SZw4GM8
Just wanted you to know that I will be featuring this project on an Easter round up as part of the create link inspire party. Thanks for linking up!
Gorgeous bread! I would love this for Easter. Pinned & sharing! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
Thank you! Your party is one of my favorites. Thanks for visiting!