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Braided Easter Bread

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  • Prep 3 hr 30 min
  • Total 4 hr 0 min
  • Ingredients 12
  • Servings 4
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As a kid, I looked forward to Easter every year. To me it meant: confetti eggs, a new Easter dress, a cute little bunny pin on my sweater, yellow ribbons in my hair, a fancy basket that my mom would put her heart into and a huge family picnic with all the fixings. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, ham, macaroni and cheese, and some sort of green salad. Dessert was a whole party on its own.... chocolate banana cream cake, finger gelatin, ambrosia salad, sugar shortbread cookies and lemon meringue pie. The thing that I mostly remember and found absolutely intriguing was my great grandmothers braided Easter bread: dough intertwined and sprinkled with sugar or candy dots, and in the center sat a hard-boiled egg. It was an absolute treat, and made Easter complete. Make this delicious bread, and either use it as a center piece, or simply enjoy it bite by bite.
by Nicole Presley
Updated Sep 11, 2015
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Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 5 1/2 tablespoons of butter
  • 4 cups flour
  • 4 eggs uncooked in shell, washed and pat-dry (dyed- if desired)
  • Candy or sugar sprinkles

For egg wash:

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water

Directions

  • 1
    In mixer, mix combining yeast, salt, eggs, sugar and cinnamon.
  • 2
    In a small sauce pan, over a low heat, add milk and butter. Heat until butter has melted and is warm. Remove from heat and allow cooling for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • 3
    Once milk is warm (NOT HOT) pour into yeast and sugar mixture in electric mixer. Mix to combine.
  • 4
    With dough hook attachment on mixer slowly add in flour a little at a time. Mix until dough comes together and is not sticky. If a little more flour is needed, do not hesitate to add it 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough is no longer sticky.
  • 5
    Remove dough from mixer, place on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes by hand.
  • 6
    Place dough in an oiled bowl, and cover with a rag or plastic wrap and place in a warm place. Allow dough to rise for about an hour.
  • 7
    Punch down risen dough, and allow rising again for an extra hour.
  • 8
    Then punch down for the last time, and divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.
  • 9
    Roll each piece into a 1 1/2 inch thick rope.
  • 10
    Take two ropes and twist together to form a rope, then pinch and join each end of rope together to form a circle.
  • 11
    Place each braided circle on a baking mat lined cookie sheet.
  • 12
    Cover the braided circles with a plastic wrap, and allow rising again for one hour.
  • 13
    Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • 14
    Make the egg wash by combining egg and water, and mix together. Then brush each braided bread with egg wash.
  • 15
    Place uncooked egg in center of braided bread circle (egg will cook as bread bakes).
  • 16
    Sprinkle bread with sugar or candy sprinkles.
  • 17
    Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until perfectly golden brown.
  • 18
    Cool on cooling rack.

Expert Tips

  • tip 1
    Remember, only eat the egg if it is freshly out of the oven. If not, discard egg.

Nutrition Information

No nutrition information available for this recipe

More About This Recipe

  • As a kid, I looked forward to Easter every year. To me it meant: confetti eggs, a new Easter dress, a cute little bunny pin on my sweater, yellow ribbons in my hair, a fancy basket that my mom would put her heart into and a huge family picnic with all the fixings. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, ham, macaroni and cheese, and some sort of green salad. Dessert was a whole party on its own.... chocolate banana cream cake, finger gelatin, ambrosia salad, sugar shortbread cookies and lemon meringue pie. The thing that I mostly remember and found absolutely intriguing was my great grandmothers braided Easter bread: dough intertwined and sprinkled with sugar or candy dots, and in the center sat a hard-boiled egg. It was an absolute treat, and made Easter complete. Make this delicious bread, and either use it as a center piece, or simply enjoy it bite by bite.
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