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easter bread on a pink napkin with 1 slice cut.

Easy Italian Easter Bread

Rosemary Molloy
This Easy Italian Easter Bread is simple and delicious. No need to be an expert bread maker to make this delicious soft bread.
4.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting/Rising Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine French, Italian
Servings 1 loaf
Calories 1818 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • cups all purpose flour
  • 1 zest lemon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • tablespoons granulated sugar
  • teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup + ½ tablespoon milk - lukewarm (I used whole)

EGG WASH

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoons nonpareils

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl or stand up mixer, whisk together the flour, zest, salt and sugar, add the yeast and mix gently, make a well in the middle and add the egg, butter, vanilla and milk.
  • Mix with a fork until it is almost combined. Then with the dough hook on speed 2, knead the dough for 7 minutes, until smooth slightly sticky, (this dough can also be kneaded by hand for about 10 minutes).
  • Move the dough to a lightly floured flat surface and form into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 40 minutes.
  • Remove the dough from the fridge and form into 3 ropes (approximately 14 inches/30 cm long each), join the 3 ends and braid, starting with the one on the right into the middle, then left into the middle, until you have a finished braid. Gently squish the braid to make it smaller and more compact to fit the pan, then place it into a lightly greased loaf pan (9 -9.5 inch / 22-24cm), cover and let rise in a warm draft free area until doubled about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
  • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C).
  • Brush the dough with an egg wash and sprinkle with nonpareils. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Immediately move the bread to a wire rack to cool.

EGG WASH

  • Beat together the egg and water.

Notes

If you find the bread is browning too much before it is baked through, then cover it with foil and continue baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 1818kcalCarbohydrates: 302gProtein: 55gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 422mgSodium: 984mgPotassium: 812mgFiber: 13gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 1405IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 251mgIron: 17mg
Keyword brioche bread, easter bread, Italian bread, Italian easter bread
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