This is our really easy Easter egg bread recipe with frozen dough! Mini sized, these are the perfect side dish to serve during the holidays. Semi-homemade with Rhodes frozen rolls or loaf we will show you step by step how to make it.
It’s that time of year again! If you’re not a huge baker from scratch we have a cheater version using Rhodes frozen rolls that turned out so pretty and delicious with very little prep. Now it is our favorite side dish everyone loves.
Earlier this year we made some frozen rolls in air fryer using these. They came out SO yummy we just kept experimenting with them and making ALL THE THINGS!
I mean we don’t just love their yeast dinner rolls, we’ve used their frozen cinnamon rolls to make a chocolate Rhodes monkey bread too. OH MY is all I have to say to that one. Let’s just say you’ve gotta’ try that too. Now that it is almost April, I thought “we should be able to use these to make something for Easter dinner too!”
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.
Ingredient Notes
I used 24 defrosted previously frozen rolls to make 12 Easter rolls but you could certainly cut it in half or double it.
Do I need to thaw frozen bread dough?
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.
Egg and a little water whisked inside a small bowl for egg wash to make shiny egg wash on the top
Sprinkles to add a bit of flare and color fun with Chocolate eggs for the middle
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!
Variations
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.
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??!!
How to Braid Easter Egg Bread
To braid this you’ll only 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. 😉
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.
How Long to Bake Easter Egg Bread
This depends on how large yours are but if you stick to 2 dinner rolls worth of dough it will take 17 minutes at 350F. to bake all the way thru. You want to keep a close eye on them after minute 15 so they don’t get too brown, you want the center to be tender.
How do you know when they are done?
You want the top to be a light golden brown with a bit of crisp to it. This will give you a mixture of a light crunch when you bite thru it with a tender soft center at the same time. You can test with breaking one in half and making sure that the inside no longer has any raw dough in it.
FAQ
It is a “fancy” side dish that is made pretty with dyed eggs placed around the wreath of braided bread or in the center. Traditionally a light brioche style of bread twisted or braided, it is shaped in a circle with sprinkles or seasonings sprinkled on the outside too.
Over the years people have changed this once tedious dish up a bit to make it easier, and tastier. Instead of using homemade dough with yeast that needs to rise twice, you can use frozen (defrosted) dough instead like we did here. Also, instead of using dyed eggs, many now use chocolate eggs with rainbow sprinkles on the outside for a sweeter flavor and look.
I mean you don’t have to but traditionally that is the classic look of this Spring side dish served during the holiday season. You can twist two pieces instead of braiding 3, or lay a few strands close together and shape in a wreath that way if you preferred.
You want to make sure they don’t dry out. The best way to do this is to wait until they have cooled to room temperature. Slide into a freezer bag and suck all of the air out. Store on the countertop (not the fridge) to stay as moist as possible for up to 3 days (ideally). Reheat in microwave for 30 seconds to become tender again.
Easter Egg Bread Recipe
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- 24 small frozen rolls, Rhodes frozen rolls used, thawed for 3 hours
- 1 tsp water
- 1 tbsp sprinkles
- 1 large egg, to make egg wash
Instructions
- Lay 24 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls on a piece of parchment paper (or inside a cake pan) that has been very lightly sprayed with non stick spray. Put a piece of plastic wrap over the top that has been lightly sprayed with non stick spray.
- Allow them to defrost and rise a bit for 3 hours. * If the outside is a bit dry because it's been exposed to the air just pick one up and fold it in half so the top is now on the inside. Put a bit of olive oil on your hands and roll it out into a long snake shape (like you used to do with playdough).
- Do this with 2 rolls so they are approximately 6" long (or so). Then 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.
- Do this (as though you are braiding with just 2 pieces) going across and across as many times as possible 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 rise as they bake. 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.
- When cooled place a chocolate egg in the center and enjoy.
- * Alternative – if you want a bolder salty/sweet flavor once they are removed from the oven, brush melted butter on the top of each one and then sprinkle on some granulated sugar.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
