Sweet Italian Easter Bread

Sweet Italian Easter Bread is a traditional brioche-like bread made during the Easter holiday. This sweetened bread is slightly dense in texture with a citrusy, sweet taste. Although sometimes decorated with brightly coloured eggs, I prefer mine topped with festive sprinkles and some sugar granules.

This old-fashioned type of Easter bread is called Pan di Pasqua. Similar to Christmas panettone. It’s a soft, yeast-leavened sweet bread made with ingredients you most likely have on hand.

It can be flavoured with orange or lemon zests and extracts of your choice. Or even paired with some aromatic anise seeds and Sambuca.

You can enrich the dough with candied fruit or top the sweet bread with whole almonds instead of sprinkles.

Mixing the dough is such an easy process. After the initial first rise, the dough is cut into three equal portions and gently rolled into long ropes. The ropes are then braided and shaped into an Easter wreath before the second rise.

The final result is a delicious, festive sweet bread for family and friends to enjoy during Easter celebrations.

Let’s get baking!

Ingredients for Traditional Italian Easter Bread

Few ingredients go into making sweet bread. You’ll find it ideal for breakfast, snacks or holiday celebrations. You’ll need the following:

• All-purpose flour: The first two cups are sifted for a lighter and airier dough.
• Granulated sugar
• Butter at room temperature.
• Yeast: I use quick-rise instant yeast.
• Eggs: Room temperature large eggs.
• Milk: Whole-fat milk, otherwise known as 3% milk.
• Lemon and orange zest for an aromatic citrus scent.
• Sprinkles and sugar granules: Or simply dust with powdered sugar before serving.

How To Make Italian Easter Bread (step-by-step)

• 1- Heat the milk and butter in a small sauce pot while stirring until the butter melts. (about 110 degrees F.) Set Aside.
• 2- In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the sugar, yeast and salt.
• 3- With the paddle attachment, mix in the lightly beaten eggs.
• 4- Mix in the milk and butter mixture.

• 5- Add the orange and lemon zest, and sift in two cups of flour.
• 6- Mix well for about 2 minutes.
• 7- Switch to the dough hook and continue mixing in the remaining flour a bit at a time.
• 8- Knead for about 10 to 12 minutes. (The dough will still be slightly sticky but avoid adding more flour)

• 9- Dust your hands with flour and transfer the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface. Knead for one minute as the dough comes together in one cohesive round ball, and then transfer the dough to a greased bowl.
• 10- Cover with cling wrap and allow to double in size for one and a half hours.

• 11- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured cutting board.
• 12- Cut into three equal portions.

Braiding Italian Sweet Bread

• 13- One at a time, roll each dough ball into 27 to 28 inches long, line them side by side on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pinch the top three ends together.
• 14- Braid the three strands of dough and pinch to seal the end.

• 15- Gently bring the two ends together to form a wreath and pinch to seal, then cover loosely with cling wrap and set in a warm place till doubled in size, about one hour and a half.
• 16- Once doubled in size, gently brush the dough with an egg wash.

• 17- Immediately sprinkle the top of the easter bread with rainbow sprinkles and sugar granules if using.
• 18- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Slice, serve and enjoy!

How To Serve Sweet Bread

This sweet bread is soft and fluffy with a brioche-like texture making it perfect for breakfast or brunch.

You can serve it as is while slightly warm or cooled completely. I enjoy mine alongside a morning cup of coffee and sometimes dunked in a steaming cup of afternoon tea.

Whichever way you serve it, it’s sure to get rave reviews.

How To Store Sweet Easter Bread

Store the sweet bread in an airtight container. When properly stored, it will last 4 to 5 days.

Can Italian Easter Bread Be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the bread for up to 2 months. First, wrap the bread in foil and place it in a freezer bag to lock in freshness.

You can also section any leftovers to wrap and freeze in smaller portions. This way, you can grab and go as needed.