Grandma Nardi’s Italian Easter Bread
A family tradition, Grandma Nardi’s Italian Easter Bread is a sweet, soft, and slightly sweetened bread topped with colorful sprinkles, making it perfect for Easter celebrations. The braided dough is soft and fragrant, with a subtle orange flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours (including rising time)
- Yield: 1 large loaf 1x
- Category: Bread, Easter Treat
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Colored sprinkles for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir to dissolve and let sit for about 5-10 minutes, until frothy.
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, softened butter, vanilla extract, orange zest, and eggs. Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the bread: Punch the dough down and divide it into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope and braid them together. Form the braid into a circle and pinch the ends to seal.
- Second rise: Place the braided loaf on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for another hour.
- Prepare the egg wash: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water. Brush the egg wash over the braided bread and sprinkle with colored sprinkles.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the bread cool completely before serving.
Notes
This bread can be enjoyed plain or sliced. It’s perfect for serving with butter or used to make sweet sandwiches. This recipe can be adapted to make smaller individual loaves as well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/12 of loaf)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Find it online: https://www.cookflash.com/grandma-nardis-italian-easter-bread/