How To Make Braided Easter Bread

  • March 30, 2009
  • 3,889 Views
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This pretty Easter bread just looks complicated; it’s actually a cinch to make!

You Will Need

  • 1 envelope of active dry yeast
  • 1/8 c. warm water
  • 1/2 c. milk
  • 1/2 stick of butter, divided
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3 1/2 to 4 c. flour, divided
  • 7 raw eggs, or 3 raw and 4 hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 tbsp. water
  • A small saucepan
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • A pastry brush
  • A large baking sheet
  • Food coloring
  • 3 tbsp. blanched almonds, slivered
How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Prepare yeast

Step 1: Prepare yeast

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Combine milk, butter, sugar

Step 2: Combine milk, butter, sugar

Heat the milk on low until almost simmering, and then stir in one-quarter stick of butter until melted. Turn off the heat. Pour the sugar and salt into a mixing bowl, and then pour in the milk and melted butter mixture, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Add flour, yeast, eggs

Step 3: Add flour, yeast, eggs

When the mixture has cooled to lukewarm, stir in a cup of flour and beat with the electric mixer or by hand until smooth. Add the dissolved yeast and two raw eggs, and beat until smooth. Then, add the flour, a half-cup at a time, until you have a soft dough.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Knead the dough

Step 4: Knead the dough

Flour your hands. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and knead it for about 15 minutes, until it’s satiny.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Let dough rise

Step 5: Let dough rise

Butter a large bowl. Shape the dough into a ball, put it in the bowl, and brush the dough with melted butter. Cover the bowl with a non-terry cloth kitchen towel and place it in a warm area that is free of drafts. Let it rise until it doubles, about two to three hours.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Shape the loaf

Step 6: Shape the loaf

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Punch the dough down in the bowl; then let it rest for 10 minutes. Remove it from the bowl, and divide it into three pieces. Roll them into strips about 12 inches long, and form a loose braid. Transfer the loaf to the baking sheet, and press the ends together to form a circle.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Add eggs

Step 7: Add eggs

Nestle four whole, unshelled eggs into the braid at evenly-spaced intervals. You can use plain white eggs or ones dyed with food coloring, and they can be raw or hard-boiled.

The eggs are safe to eat after baking only if you keep the bread in the refrigerator after baking.

How To Make Braided Easter Bread: Finish and bake

Step 8: Finish and bake

Sprinkle the top of the loaf with almonds, if using. Beat one egg with a tablespoon of water. Brush the top of the bread with the egg wash. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool the bread before eating.

Easter bread is traditionally baked three days before the holiday, on Holy Thursday.

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Comments (1)

Kathleen_Hanna

This is fantastic! My grandma used to make this and I've been wanting to try it. I love her apron and the old fash blue bowl - we had those when I was a kid very easy instructions too - I'm def gonna attempt this :)

over 2 years ago by Kathleen_Hanna

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Video is in Easter Made Easy (19 videos)