Best 7 Italian Sweet Bread Recipes

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**Embark on a Culinary Journey: Uncover the Delights of Italian Sweet Bread and Its Regional Variations**

Indulge in the rich tapestry of Italian sweet bread, a culinary treasure that captivates the senses with its enticing aromas, delectable flavors, and captivating textures. From the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany to the vibrant streets of Rome, each region of Italy boasts its unique interpretation of this beloved delicacy. In this comprehensive guide, we present a collection of time-honored recipes that showcase the diversity and artistry of Italian sweet bread. Whether you seek the classic simplicity of Panettone, the citrusy zest of Torta della Nonna, or the nutty goodness of Castagnaccio, this culinary adventure promises to tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the heart of Italy's culinary heritage. Prepare to embark on a delectable journey as we explore the secrets behind these treasured sweet treats.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN SWEET BREAD



Italian Sweet Bread image

This golden brown bread offers satisfying sweetness in every slice. The hearty round loaves rise well and cut beautifully. With an egg wash and a sprinkling of Italian seasoning, the bread looks pretty, too. -Kim Ooms, Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 30m

Yield 2 loaves (16 pieces each).

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup warm 2% milk (70° to 80°)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
EGG WASH:
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
Italian seasoning, optional

Steps:

  • In bread machine pan, place the first 7 ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed)., When the cycle is completed, turn dough onto a floured surface. Divide in half. Shape each portion into a ball; flatten slightly. Place in 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., Beat egg and water; brush over the dough. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning if desired. Bake at 350° until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 87 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 119mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 3g protein.

SWEET ITALIAN HOLIDAY BREAD



Sweet Italian Holiday Bread image

This is authentic ciambellotto, a sweet loaf my great-grandmother used to bake in Italy. I still use her traditional recipe-the only update I made was for using modern appliances. -Denise Perrin, Vancouver, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h

Yield 1 loaf (20 slices).

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup olive oil
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon coarse sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, orange zest and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk and oil until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened., Shape into a 6-in. round loaf on a greased baking sheet. Brush top with egg yolk; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cover top loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove from pan to a wire rack; serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 197 calories, Fat 7g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 87mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

SWEET ITALIAN BREAD



Sweet Italian Bread image

This is a really good bread inspired by our local Italian sandwich shop. It makes into a great beef and mozzerella sandwich or the best slightly sweet garlic bread.

Provided by LoveBakedIn

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 30m

Yield 2 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil
7 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
3 1/2 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons yeast

Steps:

  • Put all ingredients into bread machine.
  • Mix on dough cycle.
  • When cycle is complete, put dough onto greased surface and let sit for 20 minutes.
  • After dough has rested, cut in half.
  • Form into 2 long loaves.
  • Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes.

ITALIAN SWEET AND SAVORY BREAD



Italian Sweet and Savory Bread image

A soft slightly sweet version of Italian bread made into two round loaves and flavored with Italian seasoning.

Provided by Marie

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 30m

Yield 2 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup warm milk
1 lightly beaten egg
2 tablespoons soft butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
dried Italian seasoning

Steps:

  • Place all bread ingredients in bread machine pan according to manufacturer's directions.
  • Select dough cycle and check after 5 minutes of mixing.
  • If needed, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or flour.
  • When cycle is complete, turn dough onto a floured surface and divide in half.
  • Shape each half into a ball and flatten slightly.
  • Place in two greased 9" round cake pans, cover and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).
  • Beat egg and water and brush over dough.
  • Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
  • Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from pans and place on wire rack to cool.

MOIST ITALIAN SWEET BREAD



Moist Italian Sweet Bread image

The women in our family feel so blessed that my mom taught us how to make this Pane Dolce before she passed away. We do our best to carry on her loving tradition. -Kathleen Schweihs, Lockport, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h5m

Yield 3 loaves (16 slices each).

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, cubed
1 cup raisins
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
4 eggs
6 teaspoons anise extract
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped red and green candied cherries
8 cups all-purpose flour
ICING:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
4 teaspoons milk

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, combine the first four ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from the heat; cool to 110° to 115°., In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the butter mixture, eggs, extracts, nuts and cherries and 4 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down; divide into thirds. Shape each portion into an oval loaf; place in three greased and floured 8x4-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 350° for 60-65 minutes or until golden brown. Cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly. Remove from pan to wire racks to cool. , In a small bowl, beat icing ingredients until smooth; drizzle over cooled loaves.

Nutrition Facts :

ITALIAN EASTER SWEET BREAD RECIPE - (4.4/5)



Italian Easter Sweet Bread Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by gocatgo

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup butter, unsalted, room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1 envelope yeast, about 2 1/2 teaspoons
1/2 cup warm water, about 110°F
3 eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange zest
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
6 hard boiled eggs, optional
multi-colored sprinkles to decorate
1 egg, beaten with a little bit of water to make an egg wash

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter together just until the butter melts, set aside to cool. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the warm water and stir to mix, then sprinkle the yeast over top of the warm sugar and water and set aside for about 5 minutes. In the bowl of a standing mixer with a hand held whisk, mix together the eggs, and sugar until combined, add the butter, then and milk mixture, then the yeast and water mixture, then add the vanilla and orange zest, mix everything together so you have all the wet ingredients well-combined. Switch the attachment to a dough hook and add in 4/12 cups of the flour and the salt, mix until a soft dough forms. Gradually add a little more flour, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup, to make a nice smooth, but slightly sticky dough. Lightly grease a large bowl with some vegetable oil, place the ball of dough in the oiled bowl and brush a tiny bit of oil over the top as well. Cover with plastic wrap and place it in a warm spot and let it rise for about 1 1/2 hours or until it has doubled in volume. Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper and brush them lightly with some melted butter, set aside. Once the dough has risen properly, dump onto a lightly floured surface, punch it down and cut into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 22 inches long. Lay 2 ropes at a time side by side in front of you loosely braid them together. Lift the braid onto the prepared baking sheet and pinch the ends to seal, so that you now have a circle. Place 3 eggs in each circle lengthwise, tucking them between the ropes. Cover with plastic wrap and place them somewhere warm for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. Brush the tops with the egg wash and sprinkle over some sprinkles, bake them for 30 minutes or until golden, making sure to rotate the baking sheets half way though for even baking. Let them cool completely and then slice and serve.

ITALIAN BURGUNDY WINE SWEET BREAD



Italian Burgundy Wine Sweet Bread image

This is my all time best recipe! Try it and it will become a favorite of yours too. I found this more years ago than I care to remember in a magazine. It's a very rare kind of recipe that you don't come across too often.

Provided by Marie

Categories     Breads

Time 1h20m

Yield 3 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups raisins
1 cup butter
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
4 cups sifted flour
4 teaspoons cocoa
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/2 cups Burgundy wine
2 cups chopped nuts

Steps:

  • Place raisins in cold water and bring to boil, then drain.
  • Measure raisins after draining.
  • Cream butter, sugar and shortening.
  • Beat in eggs one at a time.
  • Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with wine.
  • (Batter will turn a grayish color- no problem, it looks normal when baked).
  • Stir in raisins and nuts.
  • Bake in 3 greased and floured 9x5x3 loaf pans at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
  • Cool in pans 10 minutes before turning out to cool on wire racks.
  • Just before serving, sift powdered sugar over top of bread.
  • Note: I like to bake these in mini foil pans (cooking time will need to be adjusted) and use them as a part of my cookie tray to give to friends at Christmas.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before you start baking.
  • Don't overmix the dough, or the bread will be tough.
  • Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
  • Bake the bread in a preheated oven until it is golden brown and cooked through.
  • Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Conclusion:

Italian sweet bread is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is also a popular choice for holiday gatherings. With a variety of flavors and toppings to choose from, there is an Italian sweet bread recipe for everyone. So next time you are looking for a special bread to bake, give one of these recipes a try. You won't be disappointed!

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