Italian Braided Easter Bread with Eggs
This Italian braided Easter bread with eggs is made with sweet brioche dough nestled with colorful eggs and bright candy sprinkles for a festive Easter treat!
Servings 12 servings
Calories 295kcal
Ingredients
For the brioche dough
- ¾ cup milk plus 1 tbsp for the egg wash
- 8 grams active dry yeast (1 package)
- 4 large eggs 1 egg reserved for the egg wash
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- 3 tsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 orange, zest of
- ⅓ cup butter cut into cubes and at room temperature
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
For decorating
- 5-6 large eggs as is or dyed
- colored candy sprinkles optional
Instructions
For the brioche dough
- Proof the yeast: place a packet of active dry yeast and 1 tsp sugar (taken from the total amount of sugar) in a bowl. Warm milk until lukewarm and pour over the yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix eggs and sugar until smooth.
- Add honey, vanilla extract and freshly grated zest of 1 orange. Mix well and pour in the yeast mixture.
- Add cubed softened butter. Mix all ingredients. Note that the butter will not dissolve into the mixture at this point. This is normal.
- Remove the paddle attachment and replace with a dough hook. With the mixer running on low speed, begin adding flour 1/2 cup at a time as well as the salt.
- When all the flour has been added, increase to the next speed and knead the dough for 10 minutes. It will be slightly sticky and will wrap itself around the hook.
- Transfer the dough into a lightly greased bowl, or you may leave it in the food processor bowl to rise. Cover and let rise in warm place for 3 hours until doubled in bulk. I place my dough in my unlit oven with the light on.
To shape the Easter bread
- After the initial 3 hour rise, use a kitchen scale to divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into an approximate 24-inch long rope.
- Place the palms of your hands in the center of the rope and roll gently pushing outwards to stretch out the dough.
- Do not add any additional flour to your surface when rolling the dough. If the dough slides underneath your hands, wet them with just a few drops of water.
- Pinch the ends of the 3 ropes together. Braid the ropes and pinch the other end together. Connect both ends to form a circle, or if you prefer, leave as is.
- Nestle the eggs in the bread. Let rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the bread with an egg beaten with a spoonful of milk. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles (optional),
- Bake for 15 minutes, then cover loosely with foil and continue baking until browned both on top and underneath the bread.
- You will notice that the bread will brown quite a bit after the first 15 minutes of baking, but the interior will still be raw. Covering it will ensure that the interior bakes sufficiently without burning the exterior.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Substitutions and Variations:
-The orange zest may be replaced with lemon zest.
-Replace the vanilla extract with anice extract.
-Add a handful or raisins or chocolate chips to the dough. Can brioche dough be prepared the night before? -The dough may be prepared the night before and be refrigerated until the following day.
-Let the dough come to room temperature before shaping it. Can I make smaller individual Easter breads instead of 1 large wreath? -For small individual breads, divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch rope. Join both ends and twirl the rope (instead of braiding it).
-Place an egg in the center of each wreath.
-They will bake in less time (18-20 minutes), however the eggs will be soft cooked instead of hard. If not eaten the same day, remove the eggs from the bread and keep refrigerated. Can Easter bread be made without the eggs? -You can bake the Easter bread without the eggs.
-This may be your best choice if you wish to freeze the breads or in the event that you are baking them in advance as the eggs require refrigeration if they are not eaten the same day the bread is baked. How long does this bread keep for? -The texture of any brioche bread is best the day it is baked as it tends to dry as the days go by.
-However, leftovers may be kept at room temperature well wrapped for up to 5 days. Can Easter bread be frozen? -Yes but without the eggs still nestled in the bread. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. How is Italian Easter bread served? -The sweet brioche bread is delicous eaten as is or for breakfast the next day, toasted and spread with jam or butter.
-Enjoy the baked eggs with a light drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt on bread or toast for breakfast, lunch or as a snack. -Please note that the nutrional information provided is approximate and may vary according to exact ingredients used and portion size.
-Replace the vanilla extract with anice extract.
-Add a handful or raisins or chocolate chips to the dough. Can brioche dough be prepared the night before? -The dough may be prepared the night before and be refrigerated until the following day.
-Let the dough come to room temperature before shaping it. Can I make smaller individual Easter breads instead of 1 large wreath? -For small individual breads, divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch rope. Join both ends and twirl the rope (instead of braiding it).
-Place an egg in the center of each wreath.
-They will bake in less time (18-20 minutes), however the eggs will be soft cooked instead of hard. If not eaten the same day, remove the eggs from the bread and keep refrigerated. Can Easter bread be made without the eggs? -You can bake the Easter bread without the eggs.
-This may be your best choice if you wish to freeze the breads or in the event that you are baking them in advance as the eggs require refrigeration if they are not eaten the same day the bread is baked. How long does this bread keep for? -The texture of any brioche bread is best the day it is baked as it tends to dry as the days go by.
-However, leftovers may be kept at room temperature well wrapped for up to 5 days. Can Easter bread be frozen? -Yes but without the eggs still nestled in the bread. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. How is Italian Easter bread served? -The sweet brioche bread is delicous eaten as is or for breakfast the next day, toasted and spread with jam or butter.
-Enjoy the baked eggs with a light drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt on bread or toast for breakfast, lunch or as a snack. -Please note that the nutrional information provided is approximate and may vary according to exact ingredients used and portion size.
Nutrition
Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 389IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 3mg