Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

italian easter bread

(13 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Joanne Bellezza-Loughlin
Bridgewater, NJ

This is my mom's recipe. She got it from her girlfriend, Bernie. Both great cooks. The directions weren't that great so I had to improvise a bit. I'm posting this for Val who requested it. Val, hope you make this and let us know how it turns out. Will definitely be making this for Easter this year!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This bread is just pretty as a picture...a festive addition to Easter dinner!

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(13 ratings)
prep time 2 Hr 30 Min
cook time 45 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For italian easter bread

  • 1 pkg
    yeast
  • 1/4 c
    warm water
  • 1/2 c
    butter
  • 1/2 c
    sugar
  • 6
    egg yolks
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 3/4 c
    warm milk
  • 1 tsp
    lemon zest, grated
  • 2 tsp
    vanilla
  • 4 1/4 c
    flour
  • 1 tsp
    melted butter
  • 1
    egg white, scrambled
  • 6
    colored eggs (raw) (3 for each loaf - this is a guess)

How To Make italian easter bread

  • 1
    Sprinkle yeast in warm water to dissolve.
  • 2
    Cream butter and beat in sugar, egg yolks and salt. Then stir in warm milk, lemon zest, vanilla and yeast mixture.
  • 3
    Add 2 cups of the flour and beat for 5 minutes.
  • 4
    Gradually beat in remaining flour, then place dough on floured board and knead.
  • 5
    Place dough in greased bowl and top with a little melted butter. Let rise 1 1/2 to 2 hours, then knead again.
  • 6
    Cut dough into 6 pieces and roll each piece into a rope.
  • 7
    Form 3 ropes into a braid (you will get two loaves).
  • 8
    Nestle colored raw eggs throughout each braid.
  • 9
    Brush top of loaves with egg whites.
  • 10
    Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
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