Italian Easter Bread

Italian Easter Bread

Easter Bread with Sprinkles

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 3h
Cook Time: 20m
Total Time: 3h 20m
Temp.: 375 °F
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (28 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For the Bread:

For the Eggs:

For the Toppings:

Nutritional Information

635
calories
23,5g
fat
90,7g
carbohydrates
14,8g
protein
89mg
cholesterol
490mg
sodium
Italian Easter Bread

Recipe Description

My daughters love this Italian Easter Bread even when it’s not Easter and I think it’s all the colorful sprinkles decorated over the top that makes this bread eye catching and really pretty! I love trying different foods and cuisines from cultures all around the world, especially at family gathering and celebrations like Easter time. I place a dyed, red egg, in between each of the 6 single knots of soft dough bread with hundreds and thousands of sprinkles around. 

To make Italian Easter Bread, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Italian Easter Bread

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Combine dye water

    1 min
    Step 1 - Italian Easter Bread

    In a small bowl whisk 1 cup of boiling water, a few drops of food coloring and 1 tablespoon of vinegar until combined.

  2. 2

    Dye eggs

    20 min
    Step 2 - Italian Easter Bread

    Working one by one, place an egg inside the dye water and whisk a few times. Set aside for about 5 minutes until colored then transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to dry. Continue with remaining 5 eggs, adding more food coloring as needed.

  3. 3

    Activate yeast for dough

    3 min
    Step 3 - Italian Easter Bread

    In a mixing bowl whisk ½ cup of flour with 2 teaspoons of dry yeast and ½ cup of lukewarm milk until combined then set aside, at room temperature, until the yeast has proofed.

  4. 4

    Combine wet ingredients

    2 min
    Step 4 - Italian Easter Bread

    Using an electric mixer on setting speed low, slowly add 2 beaten eggs, 4 tablespoons of melted butter, ¾ cup of sour cream, lemon zest, ¼ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt and mix until combined.

  5. 5

    Add flour

    2 min
    Step 5 - Italian Easter Bread

    Gradually add the remaining 4¼ cups of sifted flour, ¼ cup at a time until a light and sticky dough forms.

  6. 6

    Knead

    20 min
    Step 6 - Italian Easter Bread

    On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough, working with a few drops of oil at a time, and working with your hands, knead for about 15-20 minutes until 3 tablespoons of oil are absorbed into the dough and it is soft but not sticky.

  7. 7

    Rise

    90 min
    Step 7 - Italian Easter BreadStep 7 - Italian Easter Bread

    Set aside for about 1 hour 30 minutes to rise until doubled in volume.

  8. 8

    Roll balls

    1 min
    Step 8 - Italian Easter Bread

    Divide the dough into 12 small balls then roll each ball into 13-15-inch ropes.

  9. 9

    Prepare loaves

    5 min
    Step 9 - Italian Easter BreadStep 9 - Italian Easter Bread

    Take 2 ropes and braid them together and then bring the two ends to meet, forming a ring shape. Repeat with 10 remaining ropes. Transfer the dough rings to a baking sheet and place a dyed egg in the center of each.

  10. 10

    Second rise

    30 min
    Step 10 - Italian Easter Bread

    Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for about 30 minutes to rise again.

  11. 11

    Preheat the oven

    5 min

    Preheat the oven to 375 °F.

  12. 12

    Add sprinkles

    2 min
    Step 12 - Italian Easter Bread

    Once risen, brush the loaves with 2 tablespoons of milk and add sprinkles all over the top.

  13. 13

    Bake

    20 min
    Step 13 - Italian Easter Bread

    Bake in the preheated oven for about 22 minutes until golden.

  14. 14

    Serve

    Step 14 - Italian Easter Bread

    Cool completely before serving and enjoying!

This Easter Bread recipe makes 6 individual, traditional Italian loaves of bread and they’re just beautiful. We’d love to see how yours turn out and how your baking experience goes. Share your creations with us and tag us in your pictures, posts and blogs online using our hashtag #cookmerecipes!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (28 reviews)
Frank
January 1, 2025
Verified

My girls adore this bread, sprinkles and all! It adds a sweet touch to family feasts.

HappyHam
May 11, 2024
Verified

Man, this Italian Easter Bread is legit! Made it at home with my pals and it turned out so pretty with all the sprinkles. We ate it up in no time!

Andrew
October 16, 2023
Verified

Simply delicious bread!

Fiona Green
October 1, 2023
Verified

Delicious

Teresa
August 10, 2023
Verified

Mi familia adora este pan de Pascua italiano. Aunque no es Páscua, siempre lo preparo por su sabor delicioso y el colorido de los chispas. Hacerlo juntos siempre trae alegrias y un lindo momento. ¡Gracias por esta receta tan fácil!

Sarah
June 9, 2023
Verified

Lovely colorful bread!

Gina
May 14, 2023
Verified

My daughters love this bread year-round! The colorful sprinkles make it beautiful, perfect for our family gatherings.

Olivia Johnson
October 6, 2022
Verified

Colorful and delicious.

Alexander Smith
May 12, 2021
Verified

I absolutely love this Italian Easter Bread! The colorful sprinkles make it a standout at gatherings. I made it last Easter, and my friends couldn't stop talking about it. So simple to make and taste great any time of year!

Alan Smith
January 28, 2021
Verified

Delicious

Kenny
January 12, 2021
Verified

This bread is amazing! My daughters and I love making it together, especially adding those colorful sprinkles! It's super fun for our Easter gatherings. Honestly, who can resist such a pretty bread? We even enjoy it throughout the year, not just Easter! Simply delicious and colorful, I can’t get enough!

Yasmine
September 19, 2020
Verified

I made this Italian Easter Bread for our family gathering and it was such a hit! My daughters couldn't get enough of it, especially with the colorful sprinkles on top. I love adding red eggs between the knots – it makes it so festive! Even when it's not Easter, we enjoy this bread together.

Elodie Buechele
June 28, 2020
Verified

Swapped normal milk for some coconut milk and it actually leaves a hint of coconut taste too would recommend trying it even if youre not vegan.

Ellery Dugay
June 24, 2020
Verified

Love the bright colors and texture of this easter bread, much more funky than the sunny side up dessert in my opinion and goes well with the holiday.

Temperance Westfall
June 23, 2020
Verified

Adorable little bread! I give it a 5 for appearance and 5 for taste.

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