Baked Italian Easter Bread with Rosemary and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A soft, slightly sweet loaf studded with fresh herbs and Parmesan, perfect for Easter morning brunch with a delicate golden crust. This Italian-inspired Easter recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 10, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 45 min Serves 10 Italian cuisine 220 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup warm milk (110°F), 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon active dry yeast; let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. Step 2: Add 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter, 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, and 1 tablespoon fresh thyme to the yeast mixture, then mix until combined.
  3. Step 3: Gradually add 4 cups all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
  4. Step 4: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  5. Step 5: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
  6. Step 6: Punch down the dough, divide into two equal parts, shape each into a loaf, and place in two greased 9x5-inch loaf pans.
  7. Step 7: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly over each loaf.
  8. Step 8: Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
  9. Step 9: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  10. Step 10: Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 190°F (88°C).
  11. Step 11: Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before slicing.

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