Have you ever heard of Italian Easter Bread? I hadn’t until
last year, when I happened upon it on Pinterest.
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.
courtesy of recipes100 |
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.
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!
Disneyboi enjoyed these immensely and I think they would
cheer up any Easter celebration table!
Cookies made to look like Italian Easter Bread
Ingredients
Instructions
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.
Italian Easter Bread Cookies
Cookies made to look like Italian Easter Bread
Cuisine: | snack | Category: | cookies | Yields: | 20 cookies |
Prep Time: | Cook Time: | Total Time: | |||
- 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
- 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.
- Split the dough in two and wrap each half in clingfilm. Refrigerate for a couple of hours at least or overnight.
- When ready to make your cookies, pre-heat the oven 180C. Line two cookie sheets with greaseproof paper.
- 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.
- When all cookies are made, chill them for 15 minutes before baking in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Allow to cool completely before making a glaze from some icing sugar and water, Brush over the cookies and sprinkle with sprinkles.
- 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
Such a great idea! They look very cute and colourful :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat - perfect for Easter!
DeleteThese are fabulous! they would cheer anyone up, lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fan, they made my tummy very cheery ;)
DeleteLove these, they are so inventive, and just like the Easter bread! Great idea
ReplyDeleteKudos indeed from the Baking Queen! Thanks Lucy ;)
DeleteThese 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
ReplyDeleteI got mine in Tesco Sammie, you can also pick some up in Home Bargains too if you have one near you.
DeleteI love how colourful your Italian Easter Bread looks x
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlene...
DeleteThese look like fun, very festive too
ReplyDeleteThanks Heidi - yes very Eastery!
DeleteReally tempted to have a go with these. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteCheers Sally, if you do, I hope you like them as much as I did.
DeleteI love your Easter Bread Cookies, what a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah, I must try and make the bread now!
DeleteThey look gorgeous and the cracked eggs just make it seem that chocolate chicks are about to emerge!
ReplyDeleteNever thought of that Kavey! Little choccy chickies!
DeleteI absolutely love these Stuart! I've never heard of Italian Easter bread either.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Happy Easter!
Happy Easter when it comes Claire, and thanks!
DeleteThese cookies are so very pretty, love them and your photos of them too!
ReplyDeleteThanking you Laura
DeleteThese look great! Very creative. I can't wait for the Easter eating to start.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great holiday time isn't it? Thanks Dannii
DeleteI love your page!! you can visite my blog if you want it!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Antojo
DeleteOooh they do look GOOD!
ReplyDeleteCheers
DeleteTheses are lovely Stuart! Very pretty and unlike so many Easter bakes not too sweet!
ReplyDeleteYes, a wee bit lighter on the sugar, which isn't like me normally!!
Deletethese look amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo x
DeleteThese are very cute and perfect for Easter, or anytime really. GG
ReplyDeleteThanks GG
DeleteThese look so nice! So colourful and tempting! xx
ReplyDeleteThe micro eggs and sprinkles do give that pop of colour. Thanks Brogan x
DeleteLook amazing Stuart!
ReplyDeleteI love make new recipes for Easter! I will pinterest this in my board:)
Thanks Gloria!
DeleteThese look amazing! I really want to make these. I need to get some more mini eggs as mine keep disappearing ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope you managed to get hold of the micro ones Sisley! Thanks btw :)
DeleteClever, clever! I love the colours (and where would we be without Pinterest, the source of all knowledge? ;)
ReplyDeletePinterest is fab! Thanks for your kind comments Jeanne.
DeleteNot 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
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Lucy - thanks for hosting!
DeleteOh 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 :)
ReplyDeleteJanie x
Pleasure Janey x
DeleteWhat a fun idea! Pinning for next Easter!
ReplyDeleteLove all the pastel colours! they are such a fun easter bake!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love these, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice x
Delete