Thursday, April 5, 2012

Italian Easter Egg Bread


easter egg bread
This is a traditional sweet bread found around Easter time. It is a very decorative bread that can be the center of the table with some greenery, chicks, and maybe a chocolate bunny added for effect.

1 cup warm milk
1 package yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 whole egg
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup melted butter
3-3 1/2 cups flour
Colored eggs (raw, the eggs cook in the oven)
Sprinkles and powdered sugar icing (optional)

Mix the first 7 ingredients. Add the flour and knead to form a soft dough that is not sticky. Form dough into a ball and allow to double in bulk (about 1 1/2 hrs). Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it into two pieces. Roll each piece into a snake and wrap them around each other. Form this into a ring. Nestle the colored eggs into the dough and allow the dough to rise another hour. Brush the dough with egg wash (for a shiny deep brown) or just melted butter. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. The finished bread may be decorated with icing and sprinkles if you like.