Pane di Pasqua, also known as Italian Easter Bread, is a fluffy braided bread made with sweet yeast dough traditionally made at Easter time. This authentic recipe yields three beautiful loaves that are perfect for sharing with family and friends.
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Would you like to make a traditional Italian sweet bread recipe for Easter?
This pane di pasqua, which literally means Easter bread in Italian, is a beautiful braided lightly sweetened dough. It is made with mashed potatoes and oil instead of butter.
All you need are a few ingredients and some easy steps to follow. The end result is a stunningly light and delicate braided Easter bread with a beautiful golden crust.
Much like these mashed potato cinnamon rolls, this Easter bread gets its light and fluffy texture from the addition of Russet potatoes. The result is a deliciously soft and tender bread that is perfect for celebrating an Italian Easter.
If you have never tried making yeast bread before, don’t worry.
There was a time I was absolutely apprehensive about using yeast. I had this preconceived idea that only professional bakers had the magical ability to decipher when the first rising was complete.
I’m here to tell you that making this recipe for the best Easter bread is not only simple, but the procedure is very straightforward.
I can confidently tell you that you’ll feel as though every effort has been worth it after you make this delectable Easter bread!
This recipe yields three braided Italian Easter loaves of bread, one to enjoy immediately and two to share with friends or to freeze for later.
I will walk you through every step of the process so that you can make three delicious loaves of your own!
Jump to:
Mise en place
A few ingredients need to be prepared before beginning this recipe.
Boil the potatoes: First, you’ll need to boil 2 medium russet potatoes for about 15 minutes or until they are fork-tender. You need about 200 grams of riced potatoes. If you do not have a scale, this is about 1½ cups. If you do not have a potato ricer, you can use the large holes of a box grater or mash lightly with a fork. Be careful not to overmanipulate.
Room temperature eggs: Simply remove 5 eggs from the refrigerator and set them on the counter. Allow them to come to room temperature, for about 30 minutes.
Warm the milk: Place 1 cup of milk (2% or whole) in a small saucepan over medium heat and warm until it is lukewarm, about 105°F (41°C). Do not let it get any hotter than that or you risk deactivating the yeast.
Dissolve the yeast: In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of lukewarm milk with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and 8 grams (2¼ teaspoons) of active dry yeast.
Stir gently until the yeast is completely dissolved and set it aside for about 10-15 minutes to allow the mixture to become frothy.
If you do not see any foam after 10 minutes, your yeast is likely inactive and you’ll need to start over with fresh yeast.
Make the orange sugar: Combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and the zest of one orange in a small bowl. Using your fingertips, rub them together in a circular motion for a couple of minutes. Notice how the sugar undergoes a color and aroma change as it absorbs the oils from the orange. Set aside for now.
Sift the flour: Sift 1kg of all-purpose flour in a large bowl. If you do not have a scale, this is about 7 cups of flour. To properly weigh flour, fluff, then scoop and level it off with the back of a knife.
Prepare the simple egg wash: Whisk together one whole egg with a tablespoon of milk in a small bowl. Set this aside until you are ready to use it.
Assembling the dough
Now that we have all of our ingredients prepared, we can begin making the braided Italian Easter bread!
In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the eggs at medium speed until they are nice and frothy, about 3-4 minutes.
Gradually add 1 cup of orange sugar (refer to details in the previous section on preparing the ingredients). Whisk for another 3-4 minutes.
Whisk in ½ cup of oil and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract on low speed.
In a small bowl, whisk together 200 grams of riced potatoes and the yeast mixture (refer to details in the previous section on preparing the ingredients). This will create a slurry.
With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the yeast slurry. Whisk together for one minute.
Kneading and proofing the dough
Now, with the mixer still on low speed, add about ⅓-½ of the sifted all-purpose flour (1 kg total). Whisk together for 1 minute.
Switch to the dough hook attachment. Add the rest of the flour and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl, but it should be sticking to the bottom.
To test the dough consistency, press your finger lightly into the dough. It should be soft and slightly tacky to the touch.
If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour (a tablespoon at a time) until you achieve the right consistency.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Make sure to give the dough a good turn while coating it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
Allow the dough to rise in a warm place, draft-free, for about 1 hour or until double in size.
Tip: To assist the dough rise, I put it in my oven on the bread-proof setting.
After the first rise, gently deflate it by punching and pressing down. Cover and allow it to rest for an additional 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
How to braid the dough
Press down on the dough once more to deflate it again.
Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and divide it into three equal parts using a kitchen scale.
Cover each ball of dough loosely with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
Working with one ball of dough at a time, use a kitchen scale to divide it into three equal pieces. Cover loosely with plastic cling wrap.
- Then, taking one piece at a time, knead it briefly for 15 seconds, then roll it out into a long rope that is about 10 inches long and 1½ inch thick. Make sure that the ropes are even in thickness so that they will braid evenly.
- Pinch together 3 strips of dough at the top end.
- Begin braiding by bringing the left strip of dough over the middle strip.
- Then, bring the right strip of dough to the middle.
- Repeat again -left then right.
- Braid the three ropes together by intertwining one over the other two.
- Repeat again -left then right.
- You are almost done! One more time.
- Pinch the ends together. Tuck the end underneath and pinch it to secure.
Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic film.
Repeat braiding with the other two balls of dough.
Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise until almost double in size, 45 minutes. The dough should spring back lightly if you poke it with your knuckles.
Baking the bread
Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
When the dough is ready, brush the entire surface lightly with the egg wash (1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of milk) using a pastry brush. This will give the bread a nice, glossy finish.
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until deep golden brown.
Depending on your oven, you might want to place a sheet of aluminum paper loosely over the loaves, to prevent them from over-browning.
The bread should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Braided Easter Bread Variations
While this recipe yields a traditional Italian Easter bread, there are a number of ways that you can vary it:
- Instead of braiding the dough, form it into six round loaves.
- Replace the orange zest with lemon zest.
- To take it a step further, try adding different flavor profiles to the dough. Nuts and raisins are two popular additions.
- Instead of or in addition to vanilla extract, use almond and/or anise extracts.
- For a non-traditional look top the bread with poppy seeds, pearled sugar or colorful sprinkles before baking.
- Omit the egg wash and instead brush the bread with warm milk or water. It will still achieve a golden look but without the sheen.
Tips
- Check the expiration date on the yeast and test it to see if it’s still viable.
- Have the eggs at room temperature for simpler mixing. This includes the egg used for the egg wash.
- Use russet potatoes because they have a high starch content and yield a fluffy texture in the bread.
- The most precise technique to measure flour is by weight. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, fluff your flour and then scoop it using a dry measuring cup and level it off with the back of a knife. For reference, 1 cup of all-purpose flour = 142 grams [source].
- There’s no need to flour your wooden board since you want the dough to adhere to it while rolling and shaping the logs. You can prevent the soft dough from sticking to your hands by dusting your palms with flour.
- This sweet braided Easter bread is best if served the same day they are made. As with most sweet yeast bread, they dry out quickly.
FAQ
You can make the dough the night before and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Allow it to come to room temperature before deflating. Follow recipe details for shaping the dough into loaves in the morning.
Make sure to pinch the ends of the loaf well before baking and tuck the ends under. This will help secure the braids so they don’t come undone during baking.
Wrap any leftover bread in plastic wrap or place it in a zip-top bag and store it at room temperature for up to two days. Beyond that, the bread will start to dry out. You can also freeze the bread for up to three months. Simply place in a freezer bag, date and freeze.
Most people know that Italian Easter bread is a delicious sweet yeast bread that is often braided and decorated with 5 colorful eggs. I kept its authentic nature for this particular recipe and made it without the eggs. Feel free to include them if you like.
There are a few reasons why sweet bread can come out dry. One reason is over-baking the bread. As all ovens heat a little differently, be sure to check the bread at the 40-minute mark. If using a thermometer, it should read 190°F to 195 °F (87°C- 91 °C).
Another reason is using too much flour when kneading the dough. When you are adding the flour, do so gradually and only add enough to make a soft dough.
This Easter egg bread is best enjoyed the same day it is made and tends to dry out quickly.
More Italian Easter recipes
Ricotta Pie
Ricotta pie is a traditional Southern Italian dessert that is often served at Easter. This version is made with a creamy ricotta filling and pasta frolla.
Another Southern Italian favorite, originating from the Molise region is fiadone. The savory Easter cheese pie is made with three different types of cheeses. The sweet fiadone, are mini ricotta pies filled with a sweet ricotta filling. Originating from Naples, Pastiera is another very popular Italian Easter dessert that is a must-try!
Recipe origins
When a colleague of mine, Fabiana, learned of my yeast obsession, she was generous enough to share her family’s recipe for this sweet Easter bread with me. It’s been part of my Easter festivities ever since.
My friend’s mom was born in Ururi. This is a small town in the province of Campobasso, in the Italian region of Molise. I learned that Albanian refugees migrated following the Balkans’ invasion in the 15th century by the Ottoman empire.
Ururi was one of the places where these uprooted Albanians settled in. I can’t help but wonder if this recipe, which according to Fabiana, was always referred to as poprati, was influenced by the Arbëreshë people.
The original recipe said, with regards to flour, to use quanto basta – which essentially means to use as much flour as the mixture will absorb.
If you think that a description like that in a recipe is super vague and unhelpful, you are not alone. These two words have haunted so many of us trying to recapture and honor our families’ recipes. But we are a resilient group as we continue to bake and document as best as we can.
I want to mention that Fabiana’s original recipe used 1½ cups of sugar. I reduced it to 1 cup. That’s the beauty of recipes, and you can adapt to your own preferences.
Lina’s delicious Easter bread…also referred to as Pane di Pasqua… I absolutely love it!
Thank you, Fabiana, for sharing your mom’s poprati.
For an authentic Italian experience during this Easter season, be sure to check out more delicious recipes from our Easter category.
★★★★★ If you have made this traditional Italian Easter bread, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Italian Easter Sweet Bread Recipe: Pane di Pasqua
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Ingredients
Yeast mixture:
- 8 grams active dry yeast 1 package or 2¼ teaspoons
- 1 cup milk lukewarm
- 1 tablespoon sugar granulated
Orange sugar:
- 1 cup sugar granulated
- zest of one orange
Dough ingredients:
- 5 eggs room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups russet potato about 2 medium, peeled, boiled and riced, about 225 grams
- 1000 grams flour all-purpose, sifted, about 7 cups
Egg wash:
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
Dissolve the yeast:
- Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and stir. Set aside for 10 minutes.NOTE: If you do not see any foam after 10 minutes, your yeast is likely inactive and you'll need to start over with fresh yeast.
Make the orange sugar:
- Combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and the zest of one orange in a small bowl. Using your fingertips, rub them together in a circular motion for a couple of minutes. Notice how the sugar undergoes a color and aroma change as it absorbs the oils from the orange. Set aside for now.
Assembling the dough:
- In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the eggs at medium speed until they are nice and frothy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Gradually add the orange sugar. Continue to whisk for another 3-4 minutes.
- Whisk in the oil and the pure vanilla extract on low speed.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the riced potatoes and the yeast mixture. This will create a slurry.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the yeast slurry. Whisk together for one minute.
- On low speed, add about ⅓-½ of the sifted flour. Whisk together for 1 minute.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Switch to the dough hook attachment.
- Add the rest of the flour and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl, but it should be sticking to the bottom. To test the dough consistency, press your finger lightly into the dough. It should be soft and slightly tacky to the touch.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Make sure to give the dough a good turn while coating it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
- Allow the dough to rise in a warm place, draft-free, for about 1 hour or until double in size.
- After the first rise gently deflate it by punching and pressing down. Cover and allow it to rest for an additional 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
How to braid the dough and form three loaves:
- Press down on the dough once more to deflate it again.
- Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and divide it into three equal parts (use a kitchen scale if you have one).
- Cover each ball of dough loosely with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
- Working with one ball of dough at a time, use a kitchen scale to divide it into three equal pieces and cover loosely with plastic cling wrap.
- Then, taking one piece at a time, knead it briefly for 15 seconds then roll it out into a long rope that is about 10 inches long and 1½ inch thick. Make sure that the ropes are even in thickness so that they will braid evenly.
- Braid the three ropes together by intertwining one over the other two. Tuck the end underneath and pinch it to secure.
- Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic film.
- Repeat braiding with the other two balls of dough.
- Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise until almost double in size, 45 minutes. The dough should spring back lightly if you poke it with your knuckles.
Baking the bread:
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
- When the dough is ready, brush the entire surface lightly with the egg wash (1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of milk) using a pastry brush. This will give the bread a nice, glossy finish.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until deep golden brown. Depending on your oven, you might want to place a sheet of aluminum paper loosely over the loaves, to prevent them from over-browning.
- The bread should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- The serving size is calculated as 1 loaf.
- Each baked loaf is approximately 10-11 inches long and yields 20 slices cut ½-inch thick.
- Check the expiration date on the yeast and test it to see if it’s still viable.
- Have the eggs at room temperature for simpler mixing. This includes the egg used for the egg wash.
- Use russet potatoes because they have a high starch content and yield a fluffy texture in the bread.
- The most precise technique to measure flour is by weight. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, fluff your flour and then scoop it using a dry measuring cup and level it off with the back of a knife. For reference, 1 cup of all-purpose flour = 142 grams [source].
- There’s no need to flour your wooden board since you want the dough to adhere to it while rolling and shaping the logs. You can prevent the soft dough from sticking to your hands by dusting your palms with flour.
- This sweet braided Easter bread is best if served the same day they are made. As with most sweet yeast bread, they dry out quickly.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on April 1, 2015, and republished on March 28, 2022, with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!
Mena
My mom made this every year at Easter….she added Aniseed and the taste and aroma where amazing. I tried for years to make it like hers until I came across this recipe…..and just added the aniseed
Thank You
Maria
Thanks Mena! Aniseed is such a great addition!
Miranda
Any thoughts on using dairy free milk (ie oat or almond)?
Maria
Thanks for your interest Miranda. Although I have not tried it, I think it should work out just fine. Enjoy!
Vicky
I’m Of Italian heritage and this is the best Easter Bread I’ve ever made !
Maria
I am so thrilled to read this Vicky! Thanks so much for sharing. Buona Pasqua!
Donna Anderson Famiglietti
This bread looks delicious and very similar in the base recipe to a Swedish one (prior to flavoring) that my mom used to make. She used cardamom rather than orange, but hers had the milk and egg base as well as the long rise during the day. Very different texture and flavor. Can’t wait to try this one & so happy I stumbled upon this one!!!
Donna Anderson Famiglietti
I want to edit the above to say ” a very different texture and flavor than the ordinary coffee cake! Very fun to make and braid.”
Maria
Thanks Donna!
Maria
I am also glad you stumbled across this page. Cardamom is one of my favorite spices!
Donna Famiglietti
What is your elevation? I believe that baking at a higher elevation alters your baking time and heat so that could impact your outcome. I’m only at 300 feet above sea level, so pretty safe from any variations here in Connecticut, USA.
Maria
Yes, you are right Donna. Anyone living in high altitudes must make adjustments to their baking. No elevation issues for myself as well.
Cathy
How about,if I don’t have a stand muxer?
Maria
Thanks for your interest Cathy. You can knead the dough by hand. I would make a well with the dough, add the eggs in the center and start whisking them with a fork. Slowly add the rest of the ingredients as described in the recipe and then bring in the flour a little bit at a time. Enjoy!
Carmela Cataneo
Hi Maria, I just started getting your emails as a friend of mine sent me your seafood salad recipe. Looking at your Easter Bread recipe I was reading that you got this recipe from your friend Fabiana who’s mother Lina is from Ururi. My father-in-law came from this town in Campobasso. What a coincidence. He had some friends from this town that lived in Montreal as well. So interesting to read about the origin of this recipe. I will try it at Easter time.
Carmela Cataneo
Maria
How wonderful Carmela! It really is a small world. So glad you are receiving my emails, thank you!
Rita
Buona Pasqua Maria,
I put this recipe to the test and am sooo proud of myself. Absolutely delicious . We found it a bit dry though. Perhaps I might have cooked it 5 mins too much. But all gone !!! Thank you
Maria
Thank you! Buona Pasqua to you Rita! Thank you so much for sharing!
Michelina
Hi Maria. I find after adding required amount of flour my dough is still sticky
Maria
Hi Michelina, Try adding 1-2 tablespoons of flour as everyone measures flour a little differently. You will get a really light dough!
Anna
Hi Mary, can I use other potato I happen to have red potatoes on hand, will it be same results? Also what do you mean by riced ?
Anna
Ok I get it! A potato ricer! I don’t have one? Will mashed potato yield same result?????
Maria
Yes, you can definitely use mashed potatoes but the texture will be a little denser 🙂
Rita Garcia
Hi Anna,
I don’t have a ricer either so I grated it and it seemed to work fine.
Maria
Hi Anna, yes, you should get good results with red potatoes. I use a potato ricer to get that texture. Have fun!
Anna-Maria Galasso
This recipe is great! Tastes exactly like my nonna Anna’s Easter bread.
Maria
How wonderful Anna-Maria! Thank you so much for sharing!