Best 4 Easter Egg Bread Recipes

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Easter egg bread, a traditional sweet bread enjoyed during the Easter season, holds a special place in many cultures. Its rich flavors and unique braided shape symbolize the unity and joy of the holiday. This versatile bread can be enjoyed on its own or served alongside a variety of accompaniments, making it a delightful treat for any occasion.

In this comprehensive guide, we present a collection of Easter egg bread recipes that cater to diverse tastes and skill levels. From classic brioche-based loaves to healthier whole wheat variations, our recipes offer a range of options for bakers of all experiences.

Each recipe includes detailed instructions, helpful tips, and beautiful photographs to guide you through the baking process. Discover the secrets to achieving a golden-brown crust, a fluffy and tender crumb, and a perfect glaze that adds a touch of sweetness and shine.

Whether you're a seasoned baker looking to expand your repertoire or a novice seeking a new Easter tradition, our Easter egg bread recipes are sure to impress. Join us on this culinary journey as we explore the flavors and traditions of this beloved holiday bread.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

BRAIDED EASTER EGG BREAD



Braided Easter Egg Bread image

This decorative Easter bread has whole eggs baked into it! Do not cook the whole eggs, as they will bake at the same time that the bread does. The eggs can also be dyed for extra color.

Provided by MARBALET

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes

Time 3h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
¼ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
⅔ cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
5 whole eggs, dyed if desired
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast; stir well. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted.
  • Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture; stirring constantly. Add two eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
  • Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
  • Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long roll about 36 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick. Using the two long pieces of dough, form a loosely braided ring, leaving spaces for the five colored eggs. Seal the ends of the ring together and use your fingers to slide the eggs between the braids of dough.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place loaf on a buttered baking sheet and cover loosely with a damp towel. Place loaf in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Brush risen loaf with melted butter.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 234.1 calories, Carbohydrate 30.1 g, Cholesterol 143.7 mg, Fat 8.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 8.5 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 321.9 mg, Sugar 6.1 g

EASTER EGG BREAD



Easter Egg Bread image

I've made this Easter treat for 20 years! Colored hard-cooked eggs baked in the dough give this sweet bread such a festive look. Leave them out and it can be enjoyed anytime of year. My husband especially enjoys this bread with baked ham. -Heather Durante, Wellsburg, West Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h20m

Yield 1 loaf (16 slices).

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup sugar
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1 to 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon salt
6 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups whole milk
6 tablespoons butter, cubed
4 large eggs, room temperature, divided use
3 to 6 hard-boiled large eggs, unpeeled
Assorted food coloring
Canola oil
2 tablespoons water

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix sugar, yeast, cardamom, salt and 2 cups flour. In a small saucepan, heat milk and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Add 3 eggs; beat on high 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Meanwhile, dye hard-boiled eggs with food coloring following package directions. Let stand until completely dry., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Roll each portion into a 24-in. rope. Place ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid. Bring ends together to form a ring. Pinch ends to seal. Lightly coat dyed eggs with oil; arrange on braid, tucking them carefully between ropes., Cover with a kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°., In a bowl, whisk remaining egg and water; gently brush over dough, avoiding eggs. Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 281 calories, Fat 8g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 107mg cholesterol, Sodium 231mg sodium, Carbohydrate 44g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 9g protein.

EASTER "EGG" BREAD



Easter

My grandmother used to make Easter Egg breads, but she used to make small individual braided "baskets" with an egg nestled in the center under the handle. This recipe is very similar to hers, but makes one large loaf instead. This recipe is from the April 1983 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. Prep time includes 3 hours rising time.

Provided by Dee514

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 4h30m

Yield 1 Loaf

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 -3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
2/3 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 whole eggs
1 egg white
1 egg yolk
3 teaspoons freshly grated lemons, rind of
1 teaspoon water
5 raw eggs, colored with edible dye

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast.
  • Heat butter and milk to 125°-130°F.
  • With mixer on low, beat warm liquid into flour mixture until well blended.
  • Increase speed to medium and continue beating for 2 minutes.
  • Beat in 2 eggs, 1 egg white and 1/2 cup flour.
  • Continue beating for 2 more minutes.
  • By hand, stir in lemon peel and 1 to 1 1/4 cups flour.
  • Place dough on a lightly floured board, and knead for about 5 minutes adding about 1/2 to 1 cup flour while kneading.
  • Shape dough into a ball and place in a well greased (buttered) bowl, turn dough to grease the top.
  • Cover and let rise in a warm draft free place until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours).
  • Punch down dough, turn on to a lightly floured board, divide dough in half and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.
  • Grease a large round pizza pan or cookie sheet.
  • To shape the dough into ropes without stretching it, hold a dough half in both hands and gently"shake" it (don't pull it) into a rope.
  • Place the ropes of dough side by side on the pan and turning the pan as you work, loosely twist the ropes into a ring forming 5"nests" for the colored eggs.
  • Cover, and let rise again until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours).
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Carefully insert the raw colored eggs into the"nests" by gently spreading the dough apart to make space (its best not to let the raw eggs touch the pan, it causes them to crack).
  • Beat the egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water and brush dough with egg wash.
  • Bake bread about 30 minutes or until deep golden brown.
  • Carefully slide bread off the pan on to a wire rack, and let cool.
  • Note: The colored raw eggs end up being"hard cooked.
  • ".

EASTER EGG BREAD



Easter Egg Bread image

I remember as a child my mom would make Easter Egg Bread and it was always so beautiful I didn't want to cut into it. I've been missing it for a few years now & decided it was finally time to make it for myself. I found a few basic recipes online and played around with a combination of those and my original recipe for Recipe #293120 and this was the final result. I also wanted to bring a little Spring into it using fresh lemon zest and topped with a lemon glaze. It's best served the day it's made and a perfect compliment to your tea or coffee at Easter brunch. Ingredient list and directions include coloring the eggs.

Provided by Tinkerbell

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 3h20m

Yield 1 loaf, 8-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (2 1/4 teaspoon) package active dry yeast
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 whole lemon, zest for dough & reserve 2-3 teaspoons juice for icing
7 eggs (2 for dough, 5 for coloring)
5 teaspoons white vinegar
5 -8 cups cold water
food coloring
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 tablespoon milk

Steps:

  • In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment (can be done by hand), combine 2 cups of the flour and the yeast.
  • In small saucepan on the stove, combine 2 Tablespoons of the butter, salt, sugar and milk. Heat on medium just until butter is nearly melted.
  • Add hot mixture to flour and yeast. Begin mixing on low - medium speed. Add two of the eggs, one at a time mixing well inbetween. Add the lemon zest, reserving the whole lemon for the glaze.
  • Begin adding small amounts of flour, approximately another 1-1/2 cups total or until the dough is only slightly sticky when poked with a finger, but can be formed into a ball without sticking to your hands.
  • Form into a ball and place smooth side down in a greased bowl (I just spray the mixer bowl with non-stick cooking spray) and then turn the dough over so the smooth side is now on top. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and place in a warm area to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
  • While dough is rising, gently wash the outsides of the other 5 eggs. Fill 5 coffee mugs or deep bowls with a cup or so of water and one teaspoon each of vinegar. Add about 3 drops of food coloring to each cup or until it's the shade you like, then stir and gently lower one egg into each color. Let sit for 15-30 minutes or until the desired shade has been reached. Remove with slotted spoon (I use a pasta fork) to a dry paper towel and allow to dry.
  • When dough is double in size, punch down in the center, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into two balls. Cover with damp towel or foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Roll each ball into a long rope, approximately 26-30 inches long. Place side by side on a greased cookie sheet and very loosely twist them together and then form the whole thing into a circle, pinching the ends together.
  • Gently make openings in the dough twists and insert one egg into each opening. (Try to keep the eggs from touching the cookie sheet so they don't get scorched during baking.) Cover with damp towel and allow to rise until doubled again. Approximately 45 mintues.
  • At about 30 minutes of rising time, preheat the oven to 350°.
  • When dough has doubled, melt the last two Tablespoons of butter and brush over loaf.
  • Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until loaf is nicely browned. You may want to cover loosely with foil the last 10-15 minutes to avoid over-browning.
  • In small bowl stir together the confectioner's sugar, milk and about 2 teaspoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Beat till smooth, adding more juice or sugar until a thick but still liquid consistency is reached. Spread or pour glaze over loaf. Can serve immediately or cool and use as a centerpiece first.
  • (The eggs will be hard-cooked after baking and are safe to eat.).

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor and texture of your Easter egg bread.
  • Proof the yeast correctly. This is an important step that ensures that your bread will rise properly.
  • Knead the dough well. This will help to develop the gluten in the flour, which will give your bread a chewy texture.
  • Let the dough rise in a warm place. This will help it to double in size.
  • Bake the bread in a preheated oven. This will help to create a crispy crust.
  • Let the bread cool completely before slicing and serving. This will help to prevent it from crumbling.

Conclusion:

Easter egg bread is a delicious and festive bread that is perfect for any Easter celebration. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and preparation, you can create a beautiful and delicious Easter egg bread that will be the centerpiece of your holiday table.

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