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Italian Easter Bread

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A soft, slightly sweet Italian Easter Bread shaped into braided wreaths and topped with colorful dyed eggs and sprinkles. This kid-friendly holiday baking project makes a beautiful Easter breakfast or brunch centerpiece.

Prep: 25 minutes | Rise: 1 hour 20 minutes | Bake: 30 minutes

baked Italian Easter bread wreath with dyed egg and sprinkles- chgt

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast (or 1 packet)
  • 2 cups warmed milk
  • 1/2 cup shortening or butter
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 7–8 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit (optional)
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)
  • Dyed eggs (see safety note)
  • 1 egg white (for brushing)
  • Sprinkles

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Sprinkle a little sugar on top and set aside until foamy (about 5–10 minutes).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine warmed milk, shortening (or butter), salt, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
  3. Add 3 cups of flour and the yeast mixture. Mix well. Continue adding flour 1 cup at a time until dough forms a soft ball (you may not need all the flour).
  4. Knead in dried fruit and almonds if using. Knead dough for 6–8 minutes total until smooth and elastic.
  5. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Divide dough into pieces and roll into long ropes. Braid two ropes together, then join ends to form a wreath. Place on a cookie sheet.
  7. Gently place a dyed egg in the center of each wreath. Cover and let rise 20 minutes.
  8. Beat egg white and brush over the tops of the wreaths. Add sprinkles.
  9. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly before serving. Optional: drizzle with a simple icing if desired.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Kids can help dye eggs, roll dough ropes, and add sprinkles.
  • If the dough feels sticky, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time while kneading.
  • Make mini wreaths so each child gets their own bread “nest.”

Notes

For food safety, we recommend using hard-boiled dyed eggs instead of raw eggs. If you choose to bake raw dyed eggs in the bread, handle carefully and make sure eggs are fully cooked. You can also braid three ropes into one larger loaf and tuck dyed eggs into the braids.

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Recipe, image and content from Kids-Cooking-Activities.com