How to Make Braided Easter Bread
This pretty Easter bread just looks complicated; it’s actually a cinch to make!
Up next in Easter Recipes (15 videos)
Easter ham, leg of lamb, hot cross buns, braided Easter bread, a bunny cake -- find easy Easter recipes in this Howcast video series.
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
Steps
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Step 1
Prepare yeast
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The eggs are safe to eat after baking only if you keep the bread in the refrigerator after baking.
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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.
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Easter bread is traditionally baked three days before the holiday, on Holy Thursday.
