Dessert

Spectacular Nutella Swirl Easter Bread: A Delightful Twist on a Traditional Favorite Recipe

Bymia larkspur November 11, 2025November 11, 2025

Introduction

This Nutella Swirl Easter Bread offers a delicious twist on a classic holiday favorite. Soft, fluffy, and beautifully marbled with cocoa and Nutella, it’s perfect for sharing with family and friends during the festive season.

Two slices of marble cake with a mix of light beige and dark brown swirls are placed on a white plate, sprinkled with crushed nuts on top. The cake texture looks soft and moist. A silver fork rests beside the slices on the plate. In the background, a white rectangular dish holds the remaining loaf of the marble cake, showing the same swirled pattern. The setting is on a white marbled surface with a white and green checkered towel partially visible on the side. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

250 ml warm milk
120 g sugar
5 g dry yeast
2 eggs (1 for the dough, 1 for brushing)
1 tsp vanilla essence
521 g high-protein flour (520 g for the dough, 1 tbsp for adjusting)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp soft butter
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tbsp Nutella

Instructions

Step 1: In a bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
Step 2: Add one egg to the yeast mixture and whisk well. Stir in the vanilla essence, most of the flour (520 g), and salt until a dough begins to form.
Step 3: Knead the dough, gradually incorporating the soft butter until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Step 4: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Mix the cocoa powder into one half and add the extra tablespoon of flour to the other half.
Step 5: Place both doughs in a warm spot and let them rise for about 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
Step 6: Roll out each piece of dough separately. Lay the cocoa dough on top of the plain dough and roll lightly to seal them together.
Step 7: Spread the Nutella evenly over the combined dough, then roll tightly into a log, sealing the edges carefully.
Step 8: Place the loaf into a baking pan and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
Step 9: Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F). Brush the loaf with the beaten second egg.
Step 10: Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

For extra shine and flavor, brush the loaf with a sugar syrup after baking.
You can substitute the Nutella with any hazelnut or chocolate spread for a different twist.
If you prefer a sweeter bread, sprinkle some sugar on top before baking.
Ensure milk is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.

Storage

Store the Easter bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep it longer, wrap well and freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat gently in a low oven or microwave to regain softness before serving.

How to Serve

A braided bread loaf sits on a light wooden board, showing three visible layers twisted together: a golden brown top layer with a smooth and glossy texture, a middle creamy white dough layer, and a dark chocolate brown layer that appears dense and slightly textured. The bread has a shiny finish with a slight glisten from baking, highlighting the twist pattern that runs diagonally along the loaf. The background is softly blurred with hints of neutral shapes and a white marbled texture underneath the board. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this bread without yeast?

This recipe relies on yeast for the soft texture and rise, so skipping it will change the bread’s structure. For a yeast-free version, a different recipe would be better suited.

What is the best way to roll the dough to get a nice swirl?

Roll each dough separately to a similar size, then layer the cocoa dough over the plain dough. Spread Nutella evenly before tightly rolling the dough into a log. Seal the edges carefully to keep the filling inside and maintain the swirl effect.