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Easter breads are a beloved tradition around the world, symbolic of rebirth and new beginnings. Though the origins are historic, preparing these festive loaves is simple. With just a few ingredients like eggs, milk, and sweeteners, you can make a delightfully eggy, lightly sweet bread that's perfect for celebrating renewal.
While recipes vary, braided breads like challah, rich brioche-style breads, and fruited breads with citrus or dried fruits are common. The symbolism across cultures is similar: eggs represent new life, sweetness brings happiness, and braiding signifies unity.
This Easter, try your hand at a simple sweet bread recipe. The rewarding process will fill your home with the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. With each bite of tender, golden bread, you'll taste new beginnings. The smiles on loved ones' faces as you share this special treat are the best part of this beloved tradition.
Almond Cinnamon Babka Star Bread 
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Sweet and simple, this Almond Cinnamon Babka Star Bread is a crowd-pleaser. Flavours of cinnamon, almond, and raisin swirl through soft, pull-apart bread—it's irresistible! Perfect for holiday breakfasts or with a cup of coffee.
To make it, mix the dough and let it rise. Then roll it out, spread with cinnamon-sugar-almond filling, and shape into a star. Let it rise again before baking until golden. As it cools, the smell of cinnamon fills the kitchen. Pull apart the star into pieces and enjoy this tender, aromatic bread. It's an easy recipe that makes an elegant impression.
Paska: Ukrainian Easter Bread 
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This Ukrainian Easter bread, called Paska, is a piece of cake to make at home. Simply combine flour, milk, eggs, sugar, and yeast to form the sweet, tender dough. Knead it well before letting it rise. Then shape it into a round loaf and decorate the top with traditional Easter symbols using dyed egg yolks. Let it rise one more time before baking until golden. As it cools, the bread will fill your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma. Slicing into this lightly sweetened, yellow loaf reveals a texture perfect for soaking up melted butter. Make this traditional Eastern European treat to celebrate the Easter holiday with family and friends.
Greek Tsoureki 
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Easter morning brings a special treat—tsoureki! This traditional Greek braided bread is perfect for brunch. Spread some butter on a slice and enjoy the sweet, eggy flavour. It's so easy to make. Just mix up some dough with milk, eggs, butter, and a touch of orange zest. Let it rise, then shape it into braids. Brush with egg wash and bake until golden. Any leftovers become crazy good French toast! Dunk thick slices in egg batter and fry them up. Top with maple syrup or fruit compote for a delicious next-day breakfast. Tsoureki is a fun tradition that's sure to wow your family. The beautiful, braided shape and hint of orange make it extra special.
Also Read: Easter Cupcakes Recipe
Italian Easter Bread 
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Want to add a festive touch to your Easter appetiser spread? Try making your own egg-studded bread! It looks fancy but is easy to make at home. First, gather your ingredients: bread dough, eggs, food colouring, and an egg wash. Knead the dough, shape it into a rectangle, and then use a knife to cut slits across the top. Gently crack the eggs into a bowl, add food colouring, and fill the slits with the coloured eggs. Brush the top with egg wash and bake. In just 30 minutes, you'll have beautiful bread dotted with colourful eggs. Your guests will be impressed that you made this yourself. The sweet bread pairs perfectly with dips, meats, and cheeses. With just five simple steps, you can take your Easter appetiser from basic to spectacular.
Kozunak: Bulgarian Easter Bread 
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Kozunak, also called Bulgarian Easter bread, is a sweet and fluffy treat that's a traditional part of Easter celebrations. This vanilla-scented loaf is pillowy soft, with a crunchy sugar topping and juicy raisins tucked inside. It's incredibly tasty on its own, but it's also perfect for enjoying with your Easter meal.
Making kozunak is easier than it seems. Simply mix the dough and let it rise twice to get that light, airy texture. Shape it into a braided loaf, brush with egg wash and sprinkle sugar on top. As it bakes, the smell of vanilla and lemon fills the kitchen. The result is a bread that's crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft inside, with little bursts of rum-soaked raisin in every bite. It takes some time but it's worth the wait to have this deliciously sweet and aromatic Easter bread on your holiday table.
Pinca bread: Croatian Easter Bread 
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Get your pinca on! This traditional Croatian Easter bread is a sweet delight that's surprisingly easy to whip up. Pinca (pronounced peen-tsa) is a lightly sweetened yeast bread flavoured with lemon zest, raisins, and aromatic spices like nutmeg and vanilla. While the list of ingredients is short, there are a few key tips to ensure your pinca turns out picture-perfect.
Be sure to proof the yeast before mixing your dough and allow it to rise twice for the best results. Shape the dough into a round loaf, let it rise one last time, then bake until golden. Enjoy this festive bread sliced with butter or dunked into your morning coffee. Your family will be begging for this pinca every Easter morning!
Babka
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Our Babka bread is a delicious treat with eggs, butter, and raisins baked into a tall, golden loaf. In Poland and Ukraine, it's a traditional Easter bread. People bless the babka at church before eating it. The name means "grandmother" in Polish, because of its shape, like a woman's skirt. Babka is simple to make. Just mix the dough, let it rise, shape it into a loaf, and bake. The eggs and butter make it rich, while the raisins add sweetness. It's the perfect centrepiece for an Easter meal. This Eastern European tradition now graces tables far beyond its homeland.
