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italian easter bread

(8 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
lori degiglio
olean, NY

This is a very easy, slightly sweet bread that I make every Easter. Everyone looks forward to it... we eat it before dinner, with dinner... sometimes we even have a piece later on with coffee.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This is a fun and festive Easter bread recipe that'll be a spotlight on any table. There are a few steps to this bread, but overall it's very easy to make. The crust is golden brown and the inside is soft and fluffy. The raw eggs cook while baking and become like a hard-boiled egg. The glaze is a nice touch and adds some sweetness to the Easter bread.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(8 ratings)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 1 Hr 15 Min
cook time 35 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For italian easter bread

  • 3 c
    all-purpose flour, unsifted
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1/4 c
    sugar
  • 1 pkg
    quick-rise active dry yeast
  • 2/3 c
    milk
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter, softened
  • 2
    eggs, room temperature
  • 6
    raw colored eggs
  • 2 Tbsp
    melted butter
  • GLAZE
  • 1 c
    10x sugar
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter softened
  • 2 Tbsp
    milk (add more a bit at a time, if needed)
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla

How To Make italian easter bread

  • Dyeing raw eggs.
    1
    Dye the uncooked eggs and let sit for about an hour while working on the dough.
  • Adding yeast to flour, sugar, and salt.
    2
    In a large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, and undissolved yeast.
  • Heating milk butter in a saucepan.
    3
    Heat milk and 2 tablespoon butter in a saucepan and over low heat until liquids are warm (120 to 130 degrees).
  • Adding butter/milk mixture to flour.
    4
    Add to dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Scraping bowl occasionally.
  • Adding egg and more flour to the mixture.
    5
    Add 2 eggs and 1/2 cup flour. Beat at high speed 2 minutes.
  • Adding extra flour until a soft dough forms.
    6
    Stir in enough additional flour to make dough soft.
  • Kneading the dough.
    7
    Turn onto a floured board. Knead about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Allowing the dough to rise.
    8
    Place in greased bowl. Turn to grease top. Cover and let rise until doubled. About 1 hour.
  • Punching down the dough.
    9
    Punch dough down.
  • Dividing the dough in half.
    10
    Place dough on a floured board; divide in 1/2.
  • Rolling dough into a rope.
    11
    Roll each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope.
  • Twisting the ropes together.
    12
    Twist ropes together loosely.
  • Dough formed into a ring.
    13
    Form into a ring on a greased baking sheet.
  • Tucking the colored eggs into the dough.
    14
    Place colored eggs into spaces in the twist.
  • Brushing bread with melted butter.
    15
    Brush with melted butter. Cover and let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
  • Stirring together glaze ingredients.
    16
    Before bread is completely cooled, stir together glaze ingredients.
  • Brushing baked bread with glaze.
    17
    Bush on with a pastry brush.
  • 18
    Optional: As you can see, I shake some coconut in a jar with just a couple drops of green food coloring to sprinkle around the "bird's nest" for decoration. Enjoy!!
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