This delicious cinnamon and sugar Easter bread in the shape of a cross can help you celebrate a Christ-centered Easter or Good Friday. The cross is a reminder of what Jesus did for us as we also celebrate His joyous resurrection.
If you are looking for other Easter ideas focused on Jesus, here is a great list of 20+ activities you can do with your family.
Easter Bread in the Shape of a Cross
If you are looking for a gorgeous centerpiece for your Easter table, this edible cross might just be it. Your family can adopt the tradition of Easter cross bread.
That said, perhaps you want to take a different route. After all, we do celebrate Christ’s resurrection on Easter. We have always made resurrection rolls our Easter morning tradition. Maybe you do the same.
Rather than having this cross-shaped bread on Easter, you could start a good Friday tradition. On Good Friday, we focus on the pain-filled sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. He took all our sin onto His shoulders that day so that we could be forgiven and have access to our all-good and holy God.
On Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. By raising from the dead, He fulfilled prophecy and left the greatest evidence behind for skeptics like me. Skepticism and doubt has been a part of my journey, but it wasn’t the end of my story. It was part of the process to build deeper faith.
In 1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Jesus was not just a good man with great words. He proved to be Lord through the resurrection. I hope you know that truth and have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Recipe for Easter Bread in the Shape of a Cross
Easter Bread Dough Ingredients:
5 1/2 cups flour (divided)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 cups milk
Filling for Easter Bread:
6 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
Glaze for Easter Bread:
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2-4 Tbsp hot water
How to Make Easer Bread in the Shape of a Cross
- Combine 4 1/2 cup flour with sugar, yeast and salt.
- On stovetop set to medium-low heat, melt one stick of butter with 2 cups of milk, stirring occassionally.
- Once melted, pour melted butter and milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir to combine.
- Add one more cup of flour and stir to combine.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a floured surface. Add more flour if necessary. Dough is ready when the ingredients are fully combined, and it is no longer sticky.
- Cover the dough with plastic and allow to raise until doubled in size. This can take up to two hours. I set my oven on 200 and put a bowl of hot water on the bottom rack. Once the oven is to temperature, I turn it off and place the bowl with the dough on the center shelf. I keep checking every 20 minutes until it has doubled in size.
- Once your dough has proofed, roll it out on a floured surface. It should be a rectangle approximately 12″ by 24″.
- Mix together the brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon.
- Melt 6 tablespoons of butter and spread it on the dough.
- Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly on the top.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut six equal strips of dough. You want to cut so you have the longer strips.
- Stretch the dough strips so that they are approximately 36″. You want 6 long snakes for braiding.
- Pinch 3 of the strips together at the top and begin to braid the dough. Repeat this process with the other three strips.
- Place parchment paper on an extra large jelly roll pan (affiliate link). I love owning a large pan so I can cook extra bacon, cookies or candied nuts.
- Now it is time to form your bread into the shape of a cross. One of the braids will form the right side of the cross while the other braided dough will form the left. Taking the dough braid, you will start at the top, go down slightly, turn right 90 degrees and then turn the dough to go back 180. Finish by having the rest of the dough go down. Repeat the process on the other side, bending left first. Below is a picture that should help.
- Cover losely with plastic sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Allow to rise for about 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 375 F.
- Cook on the center rack for 20-25 minutes. Test with a toothpick.
- For the glaze, combine the melted butter, powdered sugar and vanilla with a whisk. Add one tablespoon at a time of hot water until you have the consistency desired.
- Using the end of your whisk, fling glaze back and forth over the cinnamon and sugar Easter bread in the form of a cross.
Note: This bread isn’t pillowy like a hot cross bun, cinnamon roll or monkey bread. It is more dense. It is a traditional Swedish tea ring.
Easter Bread in the Shape of a Cross
Ingredients
- 5 1/2 cups flour divided
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter 1 stick
- 2 cups milk
- 6-8 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-4 Tbsp hot water
Instructions
- Combine 4 1/2 cup flour with 1/2 cup sugar, yeast and salt.
- On stovetop set to medium-low heat, melt one stick of butter with 2 cups of milk, stirring occassionally.
- Once melted, pour melted butter and milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir to combine.
- Add one more cup of flour and stir to combine.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a floured surface. Add more flour if necessary. Dough is ready when the ingredients are fully combined, and it is no longer sticky.
- Cover the dough with plastic and allow to raise until doubled in size. This can take up to two hours. I set my oven on 200 and put a bowl of hot water on the bottom rack. Once the oven is to temperature, I turn it off and place the bowl with the dough on the center shelf. I keep checking every 20 minutes until it has doubled in size.
- Once your dough has proofed, roll it out on a floured surface. It should be a rectangle approximately 12″ by 24″.
- Mix together the brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon.
- Melt 6 tablespoons of butter and spread it on the dough.
- Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly on the top.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut six equal strips of dough. You want to cut so you have the longer strips.
- Stretch the dough strips so that they are approximately 36". You want 6 long snakes for braiding.
- Pinch 3 of the strips together at the top and begin to braid the dough. Repeat this process with the other three strips. You now have two long braided dough strips.
- Place parchment paper on an extra large jelly roll pan.
- Now it is time to form your bread into the shape of a cross. One of the braids will form the right side of the cross while the other braided dough will form the left. Taking the dough braid, you will start at the top, go down slightly, turn right 90 degrees and then turn the dough to go back 180 degrees. Finish by having the rest of the dough go down. Repeat the process on the other side, bending left first. Below is a picture that should help.
- Cover losely with plastic sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Allow to rise for about 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 375.
- Cook on the center rack for 20-25 minutes. Test with a toothpick.
- For the glaze, combine the melted butter, powdered sugar and vanilla with a whisk. Add one tablespoon at a time of hot water until you have the consistency desired.
- Using the end of your whisk, fling glaze back and forth over the cinnamon and sugar Easter bread in the form of a cross.
Baking with my Daughter
My kids do enjoy baking. There have been some interactions lately that have occured a bit more naturally. It seems in parenting it went from them wanting to do all things with me to me needing to ask more to being turned down more when I ask. It’s a pretty natural progression when you have teens, so I’m not too worried about it.
That said, I have been encouraged to see my teens start engaging when I don’t ask. I made the dough and once I had it all rolled out, my newly teen daughter suddenly took interest. “Can I help braid it?” She was involved on her own terms, and we had a lot of fun in the kitchen together.
I often find if I start a desirable activity, they will come alongside.
I will cherish these times as I recognize that we are nearing a time where they will be out of our home.
Want More Engaging Easter Ideas?
