Description
Sweet Italian Easter Bread weaves together rich tradition and festive flavor, celebrating generations of family culinary heritage. Delicate strands of dough embrace colorful eggs, inviting you to savor a slice of cultural comfort that connects generations around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (480 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter
Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk, lukewarm
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (7 grams) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Decoration Ingredients:
- 4 dyed eggs (uncooked)
- Multicolored nonpareils or sprinkles
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon milk (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast by dissolving it in warm milk, allowing it to become frothy and aromatic. Incorporate sugar, eggs, and flour, creating a silky pancake-like mixture. Let the sponge rest in a cozy environment until bubbles form and the volume increases.
- Enhance the sponge with remaining flour, sugar, softened butter, salt, vanilla, and vibrant citrus zest. Utilize a stand mixer with a dough hook to blend ingredients, transforming the mixture into a cohesive, supple dough. Knead thoroughly until the texture becomes smooth and elastic, with the dough gracefully pulling away from the mixing bowl’s sides.
- Allow the dough to develop and rise in a warm space, watching it expand and double in volume over approximately 90 minutes.
- Gently deflate the risen dough and segment it into eight uniform portions, ensuring consistent size and shape.
- Transform each dough segment into elongated 12-inch ropes. Intertwine two ropes, carefully pinching and twisting to create elegant wreath-like formations. Carefully tuck the ends underneath to maintain a polished appearance.
- Arrange the woven loaves on parchment-lined baking sheets. Drape with a damp cloth, permitting the dough to proof and become wonderfully puffy.
- Calibrate the oven to 400°F, positioning racks to ensure even heat distribution.
- Nestle vibrant dyed eggs into the center of each loaf. Craft a glossy egg wash by whisking egg and milk, then delicately brush the loaves, taking care to avoid the raw eggs. Sprinkle playful nonpareils across the surface for a festive touch.
- Bake the loaves until they transform into a rich, golden-brown color, rotating midway to guarantee uniform browning.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack, allowing the bread to rest and develop its final texture before serving.
Notes
- Use lukewarm milk to activate yeast effectively, ensuring it’s not too hot or cold which can kill or delay yeast activation.
- Knead dough thoroughly to develop gluten, creating a soft and stretchy texture that gives the bread its signature light, airy consistency.
- Protect rising dough from drafts by covering with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap in a warm, draft-free area like a turned-off oven.
- Customize bread by experimenting with different citrus zests like orange or lemon, or adding subtle spices like cardamom for unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg