Braided Easter bread is a lovely centerpiece for any springtime gathering. This beautiful braided bread loaf is a little bit sweet and beautifully decorated with colorful eggs for a festive twist. It’s delicious with a little bit of butter, but it’s even better spread with homemade raspberry jam. Fragrant, colorful, and a little sweet, it’s the perfect addition to your holiday table.
This bread is really easy to make, even for beginner bakers. With just a little bit of time and patience, you will have a tasty treat that you made from scratch. This dough is already simple to make by hand but to make it even easier you can combine all of the ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. This bread is as simple to make as it is delicious to eat!
This easy Easter bread is a great addition to any meal. It would make an excellent sandwich, or you can use the leftovers to make French toast. It is a great side dish to enjoy with a stew or served with roasted chicken and vegetables for a hearty meal. This Easter sweet bread is a delicious homemade bread perfect for all occasions.
Why You’ll Love My Braided Easter Bread
- Quick and Easy: With simple instructions and familiar ingredients, this recipe for Easter bread won’t take up too much of your time, and the results are both beautiful and tasty.
- Festive and Fun: The addition of colorful eggs adds a touch of festive cheer, making it perfect for Easter or any celebration.
- Soft and Flavorful: The bread has a delightfully soft and chewy texture and a slight sweetness that’s perfect to pair with all kinds of other dishes.
Ingredients for Braided Easter Bread
- All-Purpose Flour
- Dry Active Yeast
- Granulated Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to complement the bread’s flavor.
- Milk: Provides moisture and richness to the dough
- Unsalted Butter: Makes the bread tender and enhances its flavor.
- Eggs: Essential for binding the dough and giving it a lovely golden color when baked, as well as being the decor on top of the bread.
- Vanilla Extract: This subtle flavor enhancer adds a hint of sweetness and aroma to the bread.
- Food coloring
- Salt
- Canola oil
Helpful Tools
Stand mixer with hook attachment
How to Make Braided Easter Bread
Step 1: Prepare the dry ingredients.
Place the sugar, yeast, salt, and about ⅓ of the flour in the bowl of an electric mixer. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare the wet ingredients.
Pour the milk and butter into a small pot and heat until the butter is melted and the mixture is warm but not hot.
Step 3: Mix the dough.
Pour the milk and butter into the dry mixture and beat with the electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour until the dough is soft and still sticky. Swap the paddle attachment for a dough hook (or turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand) and knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
Step 4: Let the dough rise.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, then rotate the dough in the bowl so that it is greased on all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place until doubled in size.
Step 5: Make the Easter eggs.
Hard-boil five eggs and dye them using my tutorial while you wait for the bread to rise.
Step 6: Form the loaf.
Punch down the dough, then transfer to a floured surface. Divide the dough into 3 portions and roll each piece into a long rope. Place the ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid. Bring the ends together to form a ring, and pinch the edges together to seal. Brush your dyed eggs with canola oil, then stick them into the braid, tucking them between the ropes.
Step 7: Rise the bread again, and bake.
Cover the bread with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 20 minutes.
Make an egg wash by beating an egg with some water. Brush this onto the surface of the dough, avoiding the eggs. Bake the loaf until golden brown and shiny. Cool the bread on a wire rack, then slice and enjoy.
Substitutions for Braided Easter Bread
- All-Purpose Flour: If you don’t have all-purpose flour on hand, you can use bread flour as a substitute. Keep in mind that the texture might be slightly different, but the bread will still be delicious.
Recipe Variations
- Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts, such as walnuts or almonds, to the dough for a delightful crunch and extra flavor.
- Incorporate some grated lemon or orange zest into the dough for a refreshing citrusy aroma.
- Add a cup of raisins or craisins to the dough during kneading for a delightful burst of chewy sweetness in every bite.
- You can mix mini chocolate chips into the dough for a delightful chocolatey twist.
Tips for Making Perfect Braided Easter Bread
- Make sure to measure the ingredients, especially the flour, accurately. The best way to measure flour is by spooning it into the measuring cup and then leveling it off with a knife or a spatula – don’t scoop the flour in the measuring cup, or you’ll end up with too much flour.
- Allow the melted butter and milk mixture to cool to room temperature before using it in the dough. This will prevent it from killing the yeast and ensure a fluffy and tender loaf.
Serving Suggestions
This bread is an excellent centerpiece for your Easter table.
It also is just a delicious homemade bread recipe, and you can make it with or without the eggs on the top to make it appropriate for any occasion.
FAQ
How long does it take for the dough to rise?
The dough for Easter bread with yeast typically takes around 1-2 hours to double in size during the rising process. The time it takes for the dough to rise depends on how warm your kitchen is, what kind of flour you use, and how old your yeast is.
Can I use instant yeast instead of dry active yeast?
Yes, you can use instant yeast, but you might need to adjust the rising time slightly.
Can I use a stand mixer for kneading?
A stand mixer with a dough hook attachment will work perfectly for kneading. This is actually my favorite way to make bread.
Other Springtime Recipes to Try
Spring Theme Easter Bunny Bento
Create a Lindor bunny out of rice for an adorable Easter-themed lunch!
A sweet little bunny sits atop a grassy hill, all made from delicious vanilla cake and buttercream. A perfect centerpiece for your Easter dessert table!
Individual bunny cakes for each of your guests. Serve alongside macerated strawberries for a sweet and tart dessert.
A quick and kid-friendly springtime dessert!
Braided Easter Bread
This beautiful braided bread loaf is a little bit sweet and beautifully decorated with colorful eggs for a festive twist.
Ingredients
Bread Dough
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 5 1/2 tsp dry active yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 – 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Eggs
- 5 hard boiled eggs unpeeled
- food coloring
- canola oil
Pre-Baking Glaze
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Place the sugar, yeast, salt and 2 cups of flour in the bowl of an electric mixer. Set aside.
- Pour the milk and butter into a small pot and heat to 120F-130F. Pour this into the dry mixture and beat with the electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add 3 eggs and vanilla extract and beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour until the dough is soft and still sticky.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, then rotate the dough in the bowl so that it is greased on all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
- While you are waiting for the dough to rise, dye the hard boiled eggs with the food coloring. See my tutorial (link in recipe notes) for how to perfectly dye eggs! Allow the eggs to dry completely.
- Punch down the dough, then transfer to a floured surface. Divide into 3 portions and roll each portion into a 24 inch-long rope. Place the ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid. Bring the ends together to form a ring and pinch the edges together to seal. Brush the hard boiled eggs with canola oil, then stick into the braid, tucking them between the ropes.
- Cover the bread with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Combine the remaining 1 egg and water in a bowl and whisk together. Brush this onto the surface of the dough, avoiding the eggs. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!
Video
Notes
How to Perfectly Dye Easter Eggs
See my tutorial here: https://www.pankobunny.com/recipes/dye-and-decorate-easter-eggs/Storage Directions
At room temperature – Put any leftover sweet Easter bread in an airtight container. Remove the eggs and place them in the refrigerator. It will keep for 2-3 days. In the freezer: If you want to freeze the bread for later enjoyment, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in a freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy the eggs right away or store them in the refrigerator for up to two days. How to reheat: To enjoy the bread warm, simply pop a slice in the toaster or warm it in a preheated oven at 350°F for a few minutes until heated through. It will taste just as delicious as when freshly baked!Nutrition
Serving: 1loafCalories: 4125kcalCarbohydrates: 632.8gProtein: 133.5gFat: 114.2gSaturated Fat: 55.4gCholesterol: 1700mgSodium: 2971mgPotassium: 1425mgFiber: 20.3gSugar: 61.9gCalcium: 504mgIron: 42mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Hi everyone! My name is Cayla Gallagher and I’m the creator of pankobunny!
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