Braided Easter Bread with Dyed Eggs

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Quick breads Vanilla: Extract Medium

A soft, lightly sweet braid scented with orange and vanilla, wreathed around dyed eggs. A pretty centerpiece for an Easter table. Makes 1 wreath in about 3 hr 45 min.

Prep 40 min

Cook 35 min

Cooling 2 hr 30 min

Total 3 hr 45 min

Yield 1 wreath

Ingredients

Adjust yield

wreath

4 cups (500 g)bread flour
¼ oz (7 g)instant yeast
½ cup (100 g)granulated sugar
1 tsp (6 g)fine salt
1 cup (240 ml)whole milk, lukewarm
2 (100 g)eggs
⅓ cup (70 g)unsalted butter, melted
1orange zest
1 tsp (5 ml)vanilla extract
4 (200 g)hard-boiled dyed eggs, cooled and dried
1 (50 g)egg, beaten, for wash
¾ oz (20 g)sprinkles or pearl sugar

Fresh ingredient guides

OrangesHow to pick, season & nutrition · 62 kcal per 131 g

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Instructions

Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add milk, eggs, butter, zest and vanilla and knead 10 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.
Cover and rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Divide the dough into two pieces. Roll each into a 30 inch (75 cm) rope and twist the ropes together.
Shape the twist into a ring on a parchment-lined sheet and pinch the ends together.
Nestle the dyed eggs into the twists. Cover and rise 40 minutes, until puffy. Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C).
Brush the dough, avoiding the eggs, with beaten egg and add sprinkles.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes until deep golden; tent with foil if browning quickly.
Cool on a rack.

Tips

Tuck the eggs in snugly; the dough will grow around them.
Egg wash gives a glossy finish.
Decorate with sprinkles after washing so they stick.
Use hard-boiled eggs, refrigerate the bread with the eggs after 2 hours at room temperature, and eat the baked eggs within a week.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make braided easter bread with dyed eggs?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 1 wreath.

How should I store braided easter bread with dyed eggs?

Keep covered up to 2 days. Refrigerate if the eggs will be eaten, and eat within 1 week.

Can I make braided easter bread with dyed eggs ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Serve it with coffee or tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 1 serving this recipe makes.

253 Calories / serving

9.6g Fat

33.2g Carbs

8.5g Protein

14.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (1 serving): ~253 cal · 10g fat · 33g carbs · 9g protein · 14g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.