Monday 23 March 2015

'Italian Easter Bread' Cookies

'Italian Easter Bread' Cookies

Have you ever heard of Italian Easter Bread? I hadn’t until last year, when I happened upon it on Pinterest.

courtesy of recipes100
It is visually quite stunning – a plaited wreath of sweetened dough with dyed hard-boiled eggs placed in the wreath, plus some sprinkles.  Very Eastery, not just because of the colours, but of course the eggs – which have all sorts of religious connotations.

I’m not religious, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, but I still like the holiday and it's colours and tastes.

I thought I would try making it this year, but then I mentioned Italian Easter Bread to Disneyboi who baulked at the thought! He’s not a lover of real eggs at all. I say real eggs, as he does like chocolate ones, which set me to thinking.

'Italian Easter Bread' Cookies

How about a cookie made to look like Italian Easter Bread and instead of real dyed eggs, I could substitute mini chocolate eggs?

I made a plain cookie dough and chilled it overnight. The next day I twisted lengths of cookie dough together (I cannot plait to save myself, twisting was much easier) and added some micro eggs, before chilling the unbaked cookies for a few minutes (helps them to keep their shape) before baking them.


I tried both mini eggs and micro eggs and I have to say the micro eggs won. They did crack a little when baked, exposing their choccy innards, but I loved the look of them.

When cooled I made a simple glaze from icing sugar and water, brushed it over the cookies and sprinkled some multi-coloured sprinkles – very festive!

'Italian Easter Bread' Cookies

Disneyboi enjoyed these immensely and I think they would cheer up any Easter celebration table!

Italian Easter Bread Cookies


Thumbnail Url Cookies made to look like Italian Easter Bread
Cuisine: snack Category: cookies Yields: 20 cookies
Prep Time: Cook Time: Total Time:
 



Ingredients
  • 200 grams unsalted butter, softened
  • 200 grams granulated sugar
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 400 grams plain flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 bag of chocolate micro eggs
  • Icing sugar
  • Water
  • Multi-coloured sprinkles
 
Instructions
  1. In a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and mix in followed by the vanilla extract. Add the flour and salt and mix until a dough forms.
  2. Split the dough in two and wrap each half in clingfilm. Refrigerate for a couple of hours at least or overnight.
  3. When ready to make your cookies, pre-heat the oven 180C. Line two cookie sheets with greaseproof paper.
  4. Split the dough into 40 grams balls and separate each ball in half. Roll each half into 20cm long snakes and place each snake side-by-side. Twist each end until you get a full twisted ‘log’. Wrap it into a circles and then take the micro eggs, dotting 5 or 6 around the folds of the dough.
  5. When all cookies are made, chill them for 15 minutes before baking in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
  6. Allow to cool completely before making a glaze from some icing sugar and water, Brush over the cookies and sprinkle with sprinkles.
  7. Allow the glaze to dry before tucking into your Italian Easter Bread Cookies!



I am entering these into this month's Tea Time Treats hosted by (this month) Janie at The Hedgecombers and Karen at Lavender and Lovage. The theme is biscuits and cookies.


I am also entering these cookies into this week's Cook Blog Share hosted by Lucy at Supergolden Bakes

50 comments:

  1. Such a great idea! They look very cute and colourful :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are fabulous! they would cheer anyone up, lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Fan, they made my tummy very cheery ;)

      Delete
  3. Love these, they are so inventive, and just like the Easter bread! Great idea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kudos indeed from the Baking Queen! Thanks Lucy ;)

      Delete
  4. These look amazing. I think twisting the dough together makes them look fab. Thanks for the inspiration I'd like to give these a try, just need to find some lil eggs! Sammie http://www.feastingisfun.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got mine in Tesco Sammie, you can also pick some up in Home Bargains too if you have one near you.

      Delete
  5. I love how colourful your Italian Easter Bread looks x

    ReplyDelete
  6. These look like fun, very festive too

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really tempted to have a go with these. So pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Sally, if you do, I hope you like them as much as I did.

      Delete
  8. I love your Easter Bread Cookies, what a brilliant idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sarah, I must try and make the bread now!

      Delete
  9. They look gorgeous and the cracked eggs just make it seem that chocolate chicks are about to emerge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never thought of that Kavey! Little choccy chickies!

      Delete
  10. I absolutely love these Stuart! I've never heard of Italian Easter bread either.
    Great photos. Happy Easter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Easter when it comes Claire, and thanks!

      Delete
  11. These cookies are so very pretty, love them and your photos of them too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. These look great! Very creative. I can't wait for the Easter eating to start.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a great holiday time isn't it? Thanks Dannii

      Delete
  13. I love your page!! you can visite my blog if you want it!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Theses are lovely Stuart! Very pretty and unlike so many Easter bakes not too sweet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, a wee bit lighter on the sugar, which isn't like me normally!!

      Delete
  15. These are very cute and perfect for Easter, or anytime really. GG

    ReplyDelete
  16. These look so nice! So colourful and tempting! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The micro eggs and sprinkles do give that pop of colour. Thanks Brogan x

      Delete
  17. Look amazing Stuart!
    I love make new recipes for Easter! I will pinterest this in my board:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. These look amazing! I really want to make these. I need to get some more mini eggs as mine keep disappearing ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you managed to get hold of the micro ones Sisley! Thanks btw :)

      Delete
  19. Clever, clever! I love the colours (and where would we be without Pinterest, the source of all knowledge? ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pinterest is fab! Thanks for your kind comments Jeanne.

      Delete
  20. Not only do these look like Tsoureki (which is the Greek equivalent of Italian Easter bread) they also look exactly like Greek koulourakia – brings back memories. So pretty! Thanks for linking up with #CookBlogShare

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh Cakeyboi, you big tease! These look ruddy fantastic, and a perfect play on Easter bread (which I admit to never having heard of). Thanks so much for sharing with Tea Time Treats :)
    Janie x

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a fun idea! Pinning for next Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love all the pastel colours! they are such a fun easter bake!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Absolutely love these, so pretty.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving your comments. I love your feedback and really do appreciate it.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.