This sweet bread is just such a stunner! She’s perfectly thicc, has curves for days, and proudly wears a coat of many colors! She is a queen. This is a dense, cake-like bread that my Mom made during my childhood around Easter, but don’t get distracted by that. This rainbow bread is truly holiday-agnostic and delicious year-round. Important to note: This is not a challah bread. While they share a braided shape, that is where the similarity ends. I don’t have a challah recipe, but there are so many great ones available.
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Rainbow Bread
What You’ll Need
- 4 cups flour, plus extra for working
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup sugar
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup shortening or unsalted butter
- 5 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest and juice of 1 orange or lemon
- Nonpareil rainbow sprinkles
What You’ll Do
- Preheat oven to 425º.
- Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon into large bowl. Break up shortening and work into dry mix with hands until little pebbles form. Add 4 eggs, vanilla, orange zest and juice. Mix with a wooden spoon, then finish with hands as needed until dough comes together.
- On a floured surface, knead dough for 10 minutes until shiny and smooth. Place dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a towel, and let rest for 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, cut dough into thirds and roll each third into a long log. Crumple a sheet of parchment paper, then lay it flat on a baking tray. Line logs of dough next to each other on the parchment and wrap them into a braid.
- Beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water and brush the top of braid, then gleefully shower with rainbow sprinkles. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
- If your bread is getting to brown on the outside, tent it loosely with foil while it finishes baking.
- Let cool completely.
- I love eating a slice of this bread toasted with butter early in the morning with a cup of coffee and a smile on my face.
Everything you need to make magic happen.
Grab a bowl and a sifter.
1. Sift 4 cups flour.
2. Sift 4 teaspoons baking powder.
2. Sift 4 teaspoons baking powder.
4. Sift 1 cup sugar.
5. Sift a sprinkle of cinnamon
6. Add ½ cup shortening or unsalted butter.
7. Break up shortening and work into dry mix with hands until little pebbles form.
8. Add 4 eggs.
9. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.
10. Zest one orange (or lemon).
11. Juice one orange (or lemon).
12. Add zest and juice to bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.
13. Finish with hands as needed until dough comes together.
14. On a floured surface, knead dough for 10 minutes until shiny and smooth.
15. Place dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a towel, and let rest for 30 minutes.
She’s resting, not rising. Relatable, right?
I often use the microwave to let my dough rest. It’s airtight and out of the way. Just don’t turn it on!!!
Ok she is fully rested. Can’t relate!
16. On a floured surface, cut dough into thirds and roll each third into a long log.
Like this.
These are your logs.
You know how parchment always does this??
Crumple it, then it will lay flat on your baking tray. You are welcome!
17. Line logs of dough next to each other on the parchment.
18. Wrap them into a braid.
Don’t obsess over your braid. She will be perfect no matter what.
19. Beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water and brush the top of braid.
She’s glowing!
20. Gleefully shower with rainbow sprinkles.
Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Then taste the rainbow!
