Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe

If you’re looking for a heartfelt recipe to celebrate the season, this Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe is an absolute must-try. Rich, slightly sweet, and beautifully braided, this bread brings so much joy to the table with its tender crumb and delightful raisins tucked inside. Whether you’re new to baking or already a pro, this recipe offers a wonderful chance to create a traditional treat that truly captures the warmth of Easter gatherings and the loving spirit of Portuguese cuisine.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering these simple yet essential ingredients is your first step toward baking a loaf that boasts the perfect mix of softness, sweetness, and that gorgeous golden color. Each ingredient plays a crucial role from flavor to texture, ensuring the bread is as delicious as it looks.

• Very warm milk (1 and 1/2 cups): This activates the yeast and blends the ingredients smoothly for tender dough.
• White sugar (1 cup plus 1 tsp): A touch of sweetness that balances the bread’s flavor and helps feed the yeast for a good rise.
• Unsalted butter (1/2 cup or 8 Tbsp, softened): Adds richness and a soft, buttery texture to every bite.
• Salt (1 tsp): Enhances all the flavors, making everything taste more vibrant.
• Active dry yeast (2 envelopes or 1 and 1/2 Tbsp): The magic ingredient for a fluffy, risen dough.
• Eggs (3 well beaten): Give structure and beautiful color to the bread.
• All-purpose flour (6 1/2 cups, unsifted): The base of the bread, providing structure and chew.
• Egg (1) and water (1 tsp): For a shiny, golden egg wash to finish.
• Raisins (3/4 to 1 cup plus 2 cups boiling water): Soaked to plump perfection, adding natural sweetness and delightful bursts of flavor.

How to Make Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe

Step 1: Soak Your Raisins

The secret to wonderfully moist and flavorful raisins begins right here. Soaking them in boiling water softens them perfectly, ensuring when they bake inside your bread they’re juicy and tender without drying out. Drain well and set this tasty little treasure aside, ready to elevate your bread.

Step 2: Proof the Yeast

Properly activating your yeast is where rising magic happens. Mixing a bit of warm milk with sugar and sprinkling the yeast on top lets those tiny bubbles get busy. When it turns frothy and doubles in volume, you’ll know it’s alive and ready to work its wonders in the dough.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

Warm milk, sugar, softened butter, and salt come together in a bowl where the butter gently melts, creating a silky base for your dough. Adding eggs brings richness and color, making the bread irresistibly inviting even before baking.

Step 4: Mix and Knead the Dough

In goes the proofed yeast mixture, followed by flour, a cup at a time, to form a soft dough. Kneading is where the dough transforms—developing elasticity and smoothness, this step is key to getting that perfect bread texture. Expect a bit of stickiness—it means the dough is just right.

Step 5: Fold in the Raisins

This is where the soaked raisins get evenly incorporated, ensuring every slice has just the right amount of sweet pops hidden throughout the bread.

Step 6: First Rise

Transfer your dough to a buttered bowl and cover with a towel, placing it in a warm spot to double in size. A cozy, draft-free environment will help the dough puff up beautifully, setting the stage for a light and airy loaf.

Step 7: Punch Down and Prepare to Braid

After the dough has had its rise, punch it down gently to release trapped air and then divide it in half. Next, cut one half into four equal pieces and roll each into long strips for braiding—this is the fun part that gives this bread its classic, stunning look.

Step 8 – 10: Braid the Dough

Pinch the strips together at one end, then cross the right strip over its neighbor and tuck the left strip under its neighbor and over the next. Repeat this pattern until your braid is complete, then pinch the other end to secure. The braid forms a beautiful harmony of dough and texture that will impress everyone at your table.

Step 11: Second Rise

Place your braids in buttered baking dishes, cover lightly with a towel, and let rest for 30 minutes to rise again. This second rise will add that irresistible fluffiness without collapsing your masterpiece.

Step 12: Preheat the Oven

Get your oven ready to 375°F while your bread enjoys its final rest, so it’s perfect and hot when your loaves go in to bake.

Step 13: Egg Wash Time

Brush the bread generously with a mixture of egg and water to create that gorgeous golden-brown crust with a beautiful shine. This small step makes a big visual impact on your Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe.

Step 14: Bake to Perfection

Bake your bread for 20 to 22 minutes until golden brown and perfectly baked inside. The smell that fills your kitchen will already have everyone eager for a slice.

How to Serve Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe

Garnishes

After baking, consider a light dusting of powdered sugar for a pretty touch or a sprinkle of lemon zest to brighten the flavors even more. Fresh herbs like mint or edible flowers can also add a festive look when serving bread at the Easter table.

Side Dishes

This bread pairs wonderfully with some creamy butter or homemade jams, especially orange marmalade or fig jam, which complement the sweetness in the raisins. For a savory twist, serve alongside soft cheeses or a vegetable frittata to balance the flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

Try weaving small dyed eggs into the braid before baking for a stunning traditional centerpiece. Another idea is slicing the bread and layering it with butter and honey for a unique breakfast or brunch treat that everyone will love to dig into.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

You can keep leftover Portuguese Easter Bread fresh by storing it in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to three days. This helps retain the bread’s softness and freshness.

Freezing

To freeze, wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer. Frozen Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe can be stored for up to two months without losing flavor or texture.

Reheating

When ready to enjoy leftovers, warm slices in a toaster oven or wrapped in foil at 300°F for about 10 minutes. This will refresh the bread’s softness and bring back that freshly baked aroma.

FAQs

Can I use quick-rise yeast instead of active dry yeast?

Yes, you can substitute quick-rise yeast, but reduce the proofing time since quick-rise works faster. Keep an eye on your dough to avoid over-proofing.

Is it possible to make this bread dairy-free?

Absolutely! Use a plant-based milk like almond or oat milk and replace butter with vegan butter or a neutral oil. The texture and flavor will still be delicious.

How long does the Portuguese Easter Bread stay fresh?

At room temperature, it stays fresh for about three days. Beyond that, refrigeration or freezing helps maintain its quality.

Can I add nuts or other dried fruits instead of raisins?

Definitely! Chopped nuts like almonds or walnuts add a nice crunch, and dried cranberries or apricots make tasty alternatives to raisins.

Do I need a stand mixer to make this bread?

Nope! While a stand mixer with a dough hook makes kneading easier, you can mix and knead the dough by hand on a floured surface just as well.

Final Thoughts

Making this Portuguese Easter Bread Recipe brings more than just a loaf to your table—it brings tradition, joy, and comfort baked with love. Whether shared with family or gifted to friends, the golden warmth of this bread is sure to make your Easter celebration unforgettable. Trust me, once you try it, it’ll become a cherished favorite year after year.

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