Easter Egg Bread Using Frozen Dough

Recipe for EASY Easter egg bread using frozen dough is here! Mini Italian Easter bread rolls are the perfect Spring side dish you’ll love. Semi-homemade with Rhodes frozen rolls or loaf we will show you step by step how to make this for the holidays.

Easy Italian Easter Bread Recipe

Normally if you see this it is a massive wreath that needs to be sliced for everyone to share it. BUT we love finger food and tips on how to serve a large crowd faster. You have to admit that using this mini frozen bread dough recipe will be much easier to serve than a loaf of bread that needs to be sliced. SO I decided to figure out how to make this traditional Italian dish a bit smaller.

What is the significance of Easter bread?

The round wreath shaped bread is made this way to signify the crown of thorns worn by Jesus. Typically dyed Easter eggs are placed here and there on top with sprinkles sometimes added as well.

Do I need to thaw frozen bread dough before baking?

Yes you will need to do this. It takes a few hours on the countertop to defrost a loaf or rolls so they are pliable and ready to be braided in this special way. There are directions on the back of the bag for you but we will explain how we did it below as well.

Easy Easter Bread Recipe

I tried to mimic the same classic look but make things as simple as humanly possible at the same time. Instead of dyed eggs with Kool Aid I used chocolate covered malted balls with different colors!

I mean, typically you wouldn’t peel and consume a hard boiled egg off the bread loaf at the table anyway. In this case the whole thing can be consumed with NO peeling or trash to clean up. And it’s chocolate surprise eggs so the kids will think you are a hero right??!!

These didn’t last long at my house once I said my kids (and husband) could have one. 😉 Here is all that you do, I would get the kids involved too!

How to Make Easter Bread for Easter

1. First you’re going to thaw out your Rhodes rolls. Normally you would lay them in a pan with space in between to let rise until doubled in size. I stopped them short of rising that much.
   • If you cover and let rise for about 3 hours they’ll be great. Keep this timing in mind when you’re planning dinnertime.
   • Once that is done it will only take about 30 minutes to prep and bake them.
2. Put a bit of olive oil on your hands (to prevent sticking) and roll out long ropes like skinny snakes basically. You will need 2 “snakes” per braided roll.

Braided Easter Bread

Then you need to get ready to braid, only you’ll just be using 2 pieces instead of 3. I mean you could easily use 3 if you wanted for some extra flair to it, up to you.

Across and across you go and seal at the other end. Wrap it into a circle and you’re almost ready to bake it on some parchment paper.

A little bit of egg wash will give your wreaths that nice shine you would expect to see. Since that is a bit wet you mind as well “jazz it up” with some multi colored sprinkles too. Once they’re baked you’ll add the goodies on top. 😉

Rhodes Easter Egg Bread Ingredients

1. I used 24 defrosted previously frozen rolls to make 12 Easter rolls
2. Egg and a little water whisked inside a small bowl for egg wash to make shiny on the top
3. Sprinkles to add a bit of flare and color fun
4. Chocolate eggs for the middle

For a bolder salty and sweet flavor you could brush melted butter on top once they are done baking. A light sprinkle of granulated sugar could go on top of that too if you wanted.

All of the ingredients and directions are below but here is a quick step by step.

How to Make Easter Egg Bread Easy

• Lay 24 Rhodes frozen rolls inside a cake pan that has been very lightly sprayed with non stick spray. (leave space in between them)
• Put a piece of plastic wrap over the top that has been lightly sprayed with non stick spray. Allow to rise in a warm area of your kitchen.
• Allow them to defrost and rise a bit for 3 hours. Put a bit of olive oil on your hands and roll it out into a long snake shape.
• Do this with 2 rolls so they are approximately 6 inches long. Press the top ends together. Hold that down and gently pull the one who’s end is on the bottom over the top of the other. Then gently pull on the other and across the first piece.
• Continue doing this as though you are braiding with just 2 pieces until you reach the end. Then secure the ends together by pressing down. Bring the 2 ends together to form a wreath and seal the 2 ends together so it is now a circle.
• Put a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and sit wreath down. Leave space in between each one so they can spread out.
• Whisk 1 egg + tsp of water together and brush on top of each one. Then sprinkle on sprinkles.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, bake for 17 minutes. Remove and slide paper off so rolls don’t continue to bake. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then add 1 chocolate egg in the center and enjoy.

Easter Bread with Hard Boiled Eggs

Remember that unlike the traditional recipe with actual eggs, you are NOT having eggs baked in the oven with the rolls. I mean that kinda’ goes without saying but the chocolate would just be all over the place y’all. 😉 You could boil separately, color and use “real” ones if you really wanted to instead of candies.

You can see what they look like baked golden brown and cooled here. Since the eggs are multicolored they are quite pretty and make a pretty centerpiece too.

SO easy right??!! I mean NO stand mixer on medium speed, dough hook, or long rising time required to make this. Yes homemade is great but sometimes when you have a lot going on I love EASY!

Once you try these you’ll realize why we love this frozen bread and want to make more. Love cooking outside?? Try our smoked bread recipe using these babies too.