Easter Nest Brioche Breads
Category: Brioche | Servings: 6
These sweet, fluffy Easter Nests are the perfect treat for your holiday table, soft and delicious with a light, buttery texture, enhanced by a hint of citrus zest. The nests are topped with colorful confetti eggs, making them a lovely, festive centerpiece. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour (00) | 500g |
| Dry yeast (active) | 21g |
| Whole milk | 200g |
| Brown sugar | 80g |
| Unsalted butter | 100g |
| Eggs | 50g |
| Fine salt | 3g |
| Orange zest | 1 orange |
| Candy-coated eggs | 6 |
| Powdered sugar | To taste |
Instructions
-
Prepare the dough:
Begin by placing the flour and dry yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix them together on low speed to combine. Gradually add the egg, allowing it to incorporate into the flour mixture. Once the egg is absorbed, add the butter little by little, ensuring that each piece is fully incorporated before adding more. -
Add the wet ingredients:
Pour in the whole milk and brown sugar, followed by a pinch of salt. Continue mixing until a smooth, elastic dough forms. -
Let the dough rise:
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a ball. Place it in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow it to rise at room temperature for about 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size. -
Shape the nests:
Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and divide it into 6 equal portions, each weighing about 150g. Roll each portion into a long, even rope about 70 cm (28 inches) long and 1.5 cm (½ inch) thick. -
Form the nests:
Take each rope and fold it in half to form a “U” shape. Then, bring the ends of the rope together and twist them to form a double-strand. Shape the twisted rope into a round ring, about 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter, to create the nest. -
Second rise:
Place the formed nests on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap and let them rise for another hour, until puffed and slightly expanded. -
Bake the nests:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the nests for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. The sweet aroma of baking will fill your kitchen! Once done, remove the nests from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. -
Decorate and serve:
Once the nests have cooled slightly, dust them with powdered sugar and top each one with a candy-coated egg to complete the festive look.
These Easter Nests are now ready to serve! They’re perfect for Easter brunch or as a lovely springtime treat. Each bite offers a combination of soft, buttery dough with the delicate zing of orange zest, making these brioche breads a memorable treat for family and friends alike. Enjoy!
