Homemade Easter Bread - a sweetened, yeast dough that's made with colored eggs baked right into the design or braid. Let me share with you one of my family's traditional Easter Bread Recipes to help you celebrate this beautiful holiday season.
If you're looking for a shortcut version of this recipe using frozen bread dough, check out my new recipe for Individual Easter Bread Rings. If you find yourself a little too busy to make a homemade bread recipe, so this is a nice alternative.
Or maybe the thought of working with a yeast dough is intimidating? Try my Bread Machine Easter Bread recipe that uses the bread machine to make and rise the dough.
What is the meaning of Easter Bread?
Do you have a family tradition for Easter? Easter Breads are a festive and makes such a pretty presentation. It also makes a lovely gift to bring to the hostess for Easter Sunday dinner.
There are a few different ways to prepare Italian Easter Bread. One is in the shape of a wreath to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ when he was crucified.
The other is to braid the dough to represent the Holy Trinity. Some breads have eggs and some don't. The eggs symbolize "rebirth" which in turn symbolizes Christ rising from the dead.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
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- Cooking and Baking Kitchen Thermometer - I love the digital one and use mine for so much!
- Easter Egg Coloring Kit
- Parchment Baking Sheets - I use these for so much more than baking!
Fleischmann's Active Dry YeastMore InformationStainless Steel ScrapperMore InformationLarge Silicone Pastry MatMore InformationWood French Rolling PinMore Information
Ingredients:
Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!
- 1 cup warm milk 105 - 115 degrees
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 5 cups flour; more if needed
- 1 cup butter melted COOLED butter
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tsp grated Lemon Zest
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water
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 as they might explode in the oven and you’ll have a huge mess to clean up.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
In a small bowl, combine the heated milk with the package of dry yeast and 2 tbsp sugar. Set aside until the mixture is foamy.
In a mixing bowl with the dough hook attached, add 4 cups of the flour along with the remaining ingredients.
Once the yeast mixture has "proofed" add it to the mixing bowl as well and begin to combine everything together. If the dough becomes too sticky or wet, add more of the remaining flour.
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.
Remove the dough from the mixing bowl to a floured surfaced and knead by hand for a minute.
Place the dough in a bowl with a little oil. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
Step 2: Divide the Dough
After the dough has risen once, remove it from the bowl onto a floured surface. Divide into two balls.
Step 3: Braid the Dough
Work the dough into two long strips or ropes or as the kids like to call them, "snakes" and begin to braid.
Step 4: Allow the Bread to Double in Size
Insert the RAW colored eggs into sections of the braided dough. Don't worry, the eggs will cook in the oven as the bread bakes. Cover with plastic wrap loosely and allow the bread to double in size.
Step 5: Baking Instructions
Brush with the egg wash and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. You can eat the eggs or use for egg salad.
Easter Bread Recipes
You can form the bread dough into a large ring or wreath and insert more colored eggs.
Or you can make individual rings out of the dough. This size and shape is always fun if you want to give the Easter bread to neighbors or as a hostess gift.
Decorate with a sweetened icing and fun sprinkles too! You can check out the full recipe for Individual Italian Bread Rings for more information. Oh and this recipe uses frozen bread dough!
How to Make Easter Bread using Frozen Bread Dough
Yes, it can be done! I have a recipe here on my site that uses frozen bread dough to create a "shortcut" version of the traditional Italian Easter Bread. I made a sweet glaze out of powdered sugar and decorated the individual mini rings with fun colorful sprinkles.
More Delicious Easter Recipes
- Individual Italian Easter Bread Rings using Frozen Bread Dough
- Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Eggs
- Marshmallow Bunny Peeps Pudding Cups
- Mini Easter Bundt Cakes
- Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Peeps
More InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore Information
Italian Easter Bread
A family tradition to celebrate Easter with this delicious bread that has colored eggs braided through the dough.
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 1 cup warm milk 105 - 115 degrees
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 5 cups flour; more if needed
- 1 cup butter melted COOLED butter
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tsp grated lemon zest
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Easter Egg Coloring Kit
For the Egg Wash/Glaze
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp of water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the heated milk with the package of dry yeast and 2 tbsp. sugar. Set aside until the mixture is foamy.
- In a mixing bowl with the dough hook attached, add 4 cups of the flour along with the remaining ingredients.
- Once the yeast mixture has "proofed" add it to the mixing bowl as well and begin to combine everything together.
- If the dough becomes too sticky or wet, add more of the remaining flour.
- 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.
- Remove the dough from the mixing bowl to a floured surfaced and knead by hand for a few minutes.
- Place the dough in another clean mixing bowl that has a little bit of oil rubbed over the entire bowl.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel...set aside to rise until doubled in size.
- While the dough is rising, dye 3 eggs...keeping them RAW.
- After the dough has doubled, punch it down and transfer to a floured surface.
- Divide the dough into two balls and slowly work them into long ropes.
- Braid the two ropes into one loaf and place on a baking tray that is lined with parchment paper.
- Insert the RAW colored eggs into sections of the braided loaf of bread.
- Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to double again.
- Make the egg wash using the yolk only of the remaining egg and 1 tbsp of water.
- Carefully brush the bread with the egg wash.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
Notes
You must use RAW eggs. They will cook in the oven while the bread is cooking.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 306Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 265mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 6g
The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
I was wondering if you can make the dough and put it together the day before and just put it in the oven Easter Day.
I have never tried that! But the bread stays fresh for a few days. I usually bake this bread the day before Easter and serve it with our breakfast and then have it out when my family comes for dinner later in the day. It always tastes delicious and it's even better a few days later toasted! Thank you for visiting.
The traditional Italian Easter Bread is shaped in a ring with 5 colored raw eggs. The ring represents the crown of thorns and the eggs represent the five wounds of the crucified Christ. It is a delicious holiday treat with a religious meaning.
I never knew that! Thank you for the information.
What a fabulous looking Easter bread. I cannot wait to try my hand at your recipe! Pinning so I can make it this Easter!
Thanks Heidi! Hope you enjoy the recipe and the new tradition!
It is beautiful. My mother-in-law, from Italy, made it like that except she added anise to it.
Yes! We've done that flavor also. Thank you for visiting.
I made this a few years ago and it was delicious and so festive, but I lost the recipe and forgot about it. Thanks for sharing so that I can make this again!
I'm so happy you came to check out the recipe! It's one of our favorite traditions. Thank you for visiting.
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!
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!
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
Lois, this would be a great contribution to Food on Friday: Easter Foods over at Carole's Chatter. Please do bring it over. Cheers
I made yeast rolls yesterday and doing this crossed my mind. It's so cute. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Your bread is so beautiful! I don't think I want to wait until Easter to try this, it looks amazing.
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
I have never seen anything like this before! It's beautiful.
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 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
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
Very cool!!
This bread looks so fun and festive. I have seen variations of this but never made any. What a fun Easter tradition!
Hi there, I've featured your Easter Bread on Worthwhile Wednesdays,
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!
I am going to make this tomorrow. Thank you for sharing!
Kathi
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.
How creative! I love it! Just found you at the Turn for Us blog party. Thanks so much for sharing!
~Leslie
I love Easter bread and yours looks perfect! Checking this out from Artsy corner Thursday! Yummy!
Cathy
Lois, This has to be the most beautiful Easter bread ever! I think I have to make it 🙂
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! 🙂
looks yummy! i love the little eggs sticking their heads out of the bread - maybe checking if they can escape without being eaten lol 🙂
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! 🙂
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!!
How fun. I have never seen this before. What a cool idea. I will definitely have to give this a try.
The bread looksso goo! Thank you for the recipe!
This sounds and looks wonderful Lois. Pinning and SU