easter bread

Recipe by
Anne French
Colorado Springs, CO

This is actually a tweaked recipe for Irish Soda Bread with a dough cross added to the top. It is slightly sweet and buttery and every bit as tasty as it is beautiful. I always have people ask me for the recipe, and I've never had any leftovers.

yield serving(s)
prep time 45 Min
cook time 40 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For easter bread

  • 4 c
    all purpose flour
  • 3/4 c
    granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 2 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1/2 c
    butter at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 c
    buttermilk at room temperature
  • 2
    eggs at room temperature
  • 1 c
    craisins (optional)
  • zest
    from 1 orange (optional)

How To Make easter bread

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Stir together dry ingredients and zest. Add butter and cut in.
  • 2
    In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and buttermilk. Reserve about 3-4 TBS of buttermilk/egg mixture and set aside. Add the rest to the flour mixture. Mix well.
  • 3
    Pull out a chunk of dough, about 3/4 cup and set aside. Add craisins to your bread dough (not the one you set aside) and form into a round shape and place on the cookie sheet. It will be sticky and will spread a little.
  • 4
    With reserved dough, knead in more flour until a dough stiff enough to work with forms. Break into 2 pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Break each piece into 3 separate pieces and make 2 braids. Form into the shape of a cross. Tip: for a nice finish at the ends of your braids, simply tuck them underneath.
  • 5
    Brush remaining buttermilk/egg mixture on your round bread. Add the cross and brush with buttermilk/egg mixture. This will give it a nice glossy finish. Place on center rack of a oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Note: I live at 6400 feet, so my cook time is probably longer than yours if you're closer to sea level. Tastes wonderful slightly warm. Enjoy!

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