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Italian Easter Bread Recipe
5 from 16 votes

Italian Easter Bread Recipe

Italian Easter Bread is a sweet brioche-style bread enriched with milk, butter, eggs, and flavored with vanilla and orange zest. It’s traditionally decorated with hard-boiled dyed eggs and colorful sprinkles for Easter. The dough is kneaded until smooth and stretchy, incorporating butter gradually, resulting in a tender, slightly sweet loaf.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Rising Time
2 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 317 kcal
Course: Dessert, Bread
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

For the brioche bread
  • ½ cup water 120 grams, warm, at 110-115 degrees F
  • ½ cup milk 120 grams, warm
  • 4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast 2 packages
  • 3 ¼ cups bread flour 400 grams
  • ⅓ cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon, 82 grams
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 egg whole plus 1 yolk
  • ½ cup butter 8 tablespoons, at room temperature, cut into 1 tablespoon pieces, unsalted
For the topping 
  • 6-7 egg hard boiled and dyed for Easter
  • 1 egg beaten for egg wash
  • Sprinkles colorful, of choice
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 teaspoon milk

Instructions

For the Brioche Bread 
    Cup of Yum
  1. Stir the warm water and yeast together and allow the yeast mixture to sit for 2 minutes.
  2. In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment add the flour. In a separate bowl, combine all of the ingredients except for the salt and butter. Mix wet ingredients well and add to the flour.
  3. Mix the ingredients on low speed for 3 to 4 minutes, until the dough has come together.
  4. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides as needed, pushing the dry ingredients into wet patches. Once the dough has come together, beat on low speed for 3-4 additional minutes. The dough will be stretchy and sticky.
  5. Add the salt. On low speed, add the butter a little at a time, mixing after each addition until it disappears into the dough.
  6. Then, continue mixing on low speed for about 10 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. It is important for all of the butter to be mixed thoroughly into the dough. If necessary, stop the mixer to break up the dough with your hands to help mix in the butter.
  7. Once the butter is completely incorporated, turn the mixer to medium speed and beat for another 8-10 minutes, or until the dough becomes sticky, soft, and somewhat shiny. Continue beating until the dough turns smooth and silky. 
  8. Then, turn the mixer up to medium-high and beat for 1-2 minutes. You should hear the dough making slapping sounds against the sides of the mixer bowl. Test the dough by pulling it and stretching it thin.
  9. You want the dough to stretch, but also give a bit. If it feels too loose, easily breaks off into pieces, or looks shaggy, continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 additional minutes. It's ready when it's smooth and stretchy and can be gathered together and picked up in one piece. The dough will remain sticky. 
  10. Place the dough in a large oiled bowl  and cover it with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise for 60 minutes in a warm place. At this point, the dough may also be frozen or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  11. Optional: place dough in fridge overnight to allow the dough to proof and develop flavor.
  12. Deflate the dough and place it onto a floured surface. Divide Easter Bread dough into three equal pieces and form balls. Using hands roll each ball into a long roll about 36 inches long. Next, braid the long strands, pinching the top to secure it. Place 1 egg for every braid section, creating total of 6-7 sections for 6-7 dyed eggs. Seal the ends together creating a ring.
  13. Next, carefully place the dough on parchment paper over a baking sheet, spring form pan, or cast iron skillet. Spray an oven safe cup (or tin can) with cooking spray and place in the middle of the circle to keep the shape during the second rise. 
  14. Cover the bread lightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm spot (75-85 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal) for 45-60 minutes, or until the bread is nearly doubled in size.
  15. Preheat oven to 350F. Brush risen easter bread with egg wash and bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown color. Let cool. 
  16. Make glaze. Combine powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the bread and add sprinkles. Enjoy! 

Notes

  • Allow the baked bread to cool completely before storing in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
  • Store at room temperature for up to 2 days, refrigerate for up to 1 week, or freeze without eggs for up to 2 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories 317kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 42g (14%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 4g (20%) Trans Fat 0.3g (15%) Cholesterol 156mg (52%) Sodium 296mg (12%) Potassium 112mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 16g (32%) Vitamin A 446IU (9%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 41mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 317

% Daily Value*

Calories 317kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 42g 14%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.3g 15%
Cholesterol 156mg 52%
Sodium 296mg 12%
Potassium 112mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 16g 32%
Vitamin A 446IU 9%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 41mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.