Easter has always been a special time in our house, and nothing gets the kids more excited than creative breakfast treats. This Easter egg bread basket is one of those recipes that makes everyone smile when it comes to the table. I started making it years ago when I wanted something fun but not too complicated for our holiday morning.
The best part about this bread basket is that you can prep most of it the night before. While the kids are asleep dreaming about their Easter baskets, I get the dough ready and let it rise overnight in the fridge. That way, when morning comes, all I need to do is shape it, add the eggs, and pop it in the oven. The house fills with the smell of fresh bread just as everyone’s waking up.
If you’ve ever wanted to try making something that looks fancy but doesn’t require professional baking skills, this recipe is perfect. Trust me, if I can make it while half-asleep and waiting for my morning coffee, anyone can!
Why You’ll Love This Easter Bread Basket
- Kid-friendly activity – This is a perfect baking project to do with kids during Easter – they’ll love helping shape the dough and adding colorful sprinkles.
- Time-saving shortcuts – Using ready-made pizza dough means you can skip the lengthy process of making bread from scratch while still getting that fresh-baked result.
- Impressive presentation – The edible basket design creates a beautiful centerpiece for your Easter table that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen.
- Simple ingredients – With just a few basic ingredients from your local grocery store, you can create this festive Easter treat without any specialty items.
What Kind of Pizza Dough Should I Use?
The refrigerated pizza dough you find in the grocery store comes in a few different styles, and any of them will work well for this Easter basket project. The classic original-style pizza dough is probably your best bet, though thin crust varieties can also work if that’s what you have on hand. Just keep in mind that the thinner dough might need a bit less baking time. Most stores carry brands like Pillsbury or store-brand options – both work equally well for this recipe. If your dough feels too cold and stiff when you first open it, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to make it easier to shape and work with.
Options for Substitutions
This fun Easter recipe can be adapted with several easy swaps:
- Ready-made pizza dough: If you can’t find pizza dough, you can use regular bread dough, croissant dough, or even brioche dough from the store. Just keep in mind that sweeter doughs like brioche will need less time in the oven.
- White chocolate curls: Feel free to swap these with milk or dark chocolate curls, or even chocolate chips. You could also use candy melts in any color you like – they’re great for matching your Easter theme!
- Eggs: Any type of eggs will work here – they don’t have to be cage-free brown eggs. Just make sure they’re similar in size for even cooking.
- Icing sugar mixture: For the glaze, you can use any liquid – try lemon juice for a citrus kick, or vanilla extract mixed with water for extra flavor. If you’re out of icing sugar, you can blend regular sugar in a food processor until powdery.
- Sprinkles: Get creative here! Try coconut flakes, chopped nuts, colored sugar, or even small candies. You can match any holiday theme by changing up your toppings.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making Easter egg bread baskets is working with the pizza dough – if it’s too cold, it won’t be pliable enough to weave properly, so let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before starting.
When creating the basket weave pattern, many bakers make the mistake of pulling the dough strips too tight, which can cause the basket to lose its shape during baking – keep the weaving loose enough to allow for some expansion in the oven.
Another common error is not properly securing the ends of the dough strips, which can lead to unraveling during baking – pinch and tuck the ends firmly underneath the basket, and brush with a beaten egg wash to help them stick together.
For the chocolate decoration, avoid adding it while the bread is still hot as it will melt and run – wait until the basket has completely cooled, and if you’re working in a warm kitchen, chill the decorated basket for 10 minutes to help the chocolate set properly.
What to Serve With Easter Egg Bread Baskets?
These sweet and festive bread baskets are perfect for your Easter brunch spread and pair wonderfully with other holiday favorites. A hot cup of coffee or tea makes the perfect beverage companion, while some fresh fruit like strawberries or mandarin oranges adds a bright, fresh element to the plate. Since these bread baskets lean sweet, you might want to serve them alongside savory breakfast items like bacon, breakfast sausage, or a cheese and herb frittata to create a balanced meal. For the kids’ table, a glass of cold milk makes the perfect drink to go with these fun treats.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Your Easter egg bread basket is best enjoyed within 2 days when stored properly. Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. The chocolate decorations might get a bit soft if it’s warm, so try to keep it in a cool spot in your kitchen.
Make Ahead: Want to get ahead of the Easter rush? You can make the bread basket part up to 1 day in advance. Just wait to add the chocolate curls and sprinkles until you’re ready to serve. This way, your decorations will look fresh and pretty when it’s time to present your creation.
Display: If you’re planning to use this as a centerpiece for your Easter celebration, it’s best to assemble it the same day you’ll be serving it. The bread basket will hold its shape nicely, and your chocolate decorations will look perfect for your special occasion.
| Preparation Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 15-20 minutes |
| Total Time | 35-50 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2200-2500
- Protein: 50-60 g
- Fat: 100-120 g
- Carbohydrates: 300-350 g
Ingredients
- 5 brown cage-free eggs
- 2 cans of ready-made pizza dough
- 6 oz white chocolate curls
- Sprinkles of your choice
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons water or milk
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
On your kitchen counter, lay another sheet of parchment paper.
Open the rolls of pizza dough one at a time and roll them out evenly.
Sprinkle a pinch of flour over the dough and coat your hands with flour to prevent sticking as you work with the dough.
Step 2: Cut and Fill the Dough Strips
Using a sharp knife, cut 6 even strips out of the rolled-out dough.
Take a white chocolate bar and use a potato peeler or cheese grater to create shavings.
If a white chocolate bar is not available, use white chocolate chips instead.
Sprinkle the chocolate shavings or chips evenly over the strips of dough.
Pinch each strip to tuck the chocolate inside, similar to creating a stuffed crust.
Step 3: Braid the Dough
Pinch the ends of 3 dough strips together to begin forming a braid.
Carefully braid the dough strips, being sure to keep the chocolate tucked inside.
When you reach the end of each braid, pinch the opposite ends of the strips together to secure.
Step 4: Form the Twisted Braid
Gently stretch the braided dough to elongate it slightly.
Pinch both the top and bottom ends of the braid together before twisting the entire braid over itself long-ways, resulting in a twisted braid design.
Tuck the two ends of the twisted braid into each other and pinch to hold them in place.
Form the twisted braid into a circle shape, leaving an open hole in the middle.
Step 5: Finish and Repeat
Place the finished circle of dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
If you haven’t already, repeat Steps 3 and 4 with the remaining dough strips.
Once all braids are shaped and placed on the baking sheet, they are ready to bake.
Step 6: Bake the Twisted Chocolate Rings
Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the dough is golden brown and fully cooked through.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Enjoy your delicious homemade white chocolate-filled twisted braids!
