Italian Easter Bread

So I saw this recipe on pinterest and the colors are really what got me to want to make it. I love how fun and springy these are! Also, since I have a new found love for all recipes that have to deal with yeast, I thought it would be the perfect thing to add to the blog! I really had a lot of fun making these! And of course, they also taste AMAZING!
(Have I mentioned how much I love my new camera that Derek got me for Christmas?)
Ingredients:
1 package Rapid Rise (instant) yeast (about 2-1/4 teaspoons)
1.25 cups milk
pinch of salt
1/3 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
3.5 cups flour (approximate)
1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon of water
6 dyed Easter eggs
sprinkles or pearlized sugar

tip:  the Easter eggs do not need to be hard boiled.  They cook when the bread bakes.  I usually just dye the eggs raw without hardboiling them.  Saves time.  Just be careful they don't crack!

Directions:
In a small saucepan, warm the milk and butter together, just till butter melts. In a large mixer bowl, combine yeast, salt, eggs and sugar.  Add the warm (not hot - it will kill the yeast) milk and butter. Add about half the flour and beat until smooth with dough hook.   Slowly add the remaining flour to form a stiff dough.  

Don't worry about how much flour it ends up being, just keep adding until the dough is not sticky anymore.  

Knead until smooth with either dough hook attachment or turn out on floured board and knead.  Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled,about an hour.

Punch dough down, divide into 12 pieces.  Roll each piece to form a 1 inch thick rope about 14 inches long and, taking two pieces, twist to form a "braid", pinching the ends,  and loop into a circle.
Place on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpats.  Cover and let rise until double,about an hour again.  Brush each  bread with beaten egg wash.  Put on the sprinkles or pearl sugar.   In the middle of each bread ring, gently place an Easter egg, making an indentation with the egg.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden - about 20 minutes.  Cool on rack.

You can eat the eggs, but if you leave the bread sitting out for a few hours, don't eat them.  Common sense.


1 comment

  1. I was looking at your recipe for rolls and got distracted by the cute colors. These look like so much fun to make!

    ReplyDelete