Many cultures around the world make Easter Bread, but my personal favorite has always been Sweet Italian Easter Bread. It symbolizes the end of Lent, the resurrection of Jesus, and the beginning of Spring. The bread is braided with three strands of dough to represent the Holy Trinity, and its round shape is symbolic of the crown of thorns worn by Christ. Many bake colored eggs into the bread to symbolize rebirth and new life. Typically, ingredients such as eggs, butter, and sugar were forbidden during Lent, making this bread a joyful way to celebrate the end of fasting.
When I was a teenager, I worked in a small Italian bakery in Brooklyn, and we sold Sweet Italian Easter Bread. I still remember how the warm, citrusy aroma of fresh orange zest would drift out the door and onto the street, drawing people in like a magnet. This year, I surprised my family and made Sweet Italian Easter Bread for them. It was an instant hit, and my grandchildren couldn’t get enough of it! I skipped the traditional colored eggs since my kids aren’t fond of them, but the bread was just as special. It’s surprisingly simple to make when you follow a good recipe. I used Laura Vitale’s Best Italian Sweet Bread recipe, and it turned out delicious every single time.
I hope you will be inspired to try making Sweet Italian Easter Bread for your own family. There’s nothing like sharing something homemade, especially when it’s filled with so much history, meaning, and love. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy and Blessed Easter!