Portuguese Sweet Bread is a very rich, dense bread that is popular in parts of New England – the Portuguese communities of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in particular. Local Portuguese bakeries make this traditional bread with hard boiled eggs – colored or not – baked inside the loaf during the Easter holiday. Children are excited when they find the eggs, as it's always a special treat.
Bread Pudding & French Toast
Because Portuguese Bread has the texture of brioche, it's perfect for making Chocolate Bread Pudding, French toast, fried egg sandwiches and panini sandwiches. Plain old toast sprinkled with cinnamon sugar takes on a whole new meaning when made with Portuguese Sweet Bread.
Portuguese Sweet Bread Recipe
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 3 Tablespoons liquid lecithin
- 6 - 6 3/4 cups all purpose unbleached white flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons instant dry yeast
- 3 Tablespoons vital wheat gluten
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
How To Make Portuguese Sweet Bread
- Read How to Make Basic Homemade Yeast Bread before starting this recipe. The article explains where to buy whole grain ingredients, what kind of yeast to use for bread, and kneading bread by hand, mixer or bread machine. Making homemade yeast bread isn't hard to learn.
- Spray 3 regular size loaf pans, or 3) 8 inch round cake pans with vegetable spray, and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, heat milk, water and butter until warm and butter is melted. Add lecithin. Pour into a large mixing bowl fitted with a dough hook, or beat the liquids together with a hand whisk. Cool to lukewarm while blending dry ingredients.
- Mix 6 cups flour, sugar, salt, yeast and gluten together in a large bowl, and add to the mixer with the liquids. Blend just to incorporate.
- Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a measuring cup or bowl, and add to the bread dough.
- Turn mixer to low-medium speed, and knead for approximately 15 minutes or until dough forms a ball on the hook and pulls away from the bowl.
- Add remaining flour – a quarter of a cup at a time – if the dough is too sticky.
- Turn into a lightly oiled bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes.
- It is not necessary to let the bread dough go through two risings when using instant dry yeast. One rising is enough, but this dough is very heavy with all the eggs, sugar and butter, so two risings would be acceptable if necessary.
- Divide Portuguese Sweet Bread dough into three equal pieces, and roll them into a log, tucking ends underneath. Pinch the seem with fingers, and place bread seam side down in prepared loaf pans. If using round cake pans, shape the Sweet Bread dough into three large balls, and place them in the prepared pans.
- Let bread dough rise in a warm place until double in size. This may take up to double the normal rising time expected of most traditional bread doughs - up to 2 hours is not unusual with a heavy dough like this. Try not to disturb the bread, or expose to drafts or cool air. This could take longer than usual because of the heaviness of the dough. Covering the dough with a tea towel, and placing near a warm radiator, or on top of a gas stove with pilot lights works to speed up the rising time a little.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. The Portuguese Sweet Bread is done when it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Again, this may take a little less time, or longer than regular breads.
- Remove from oven and let sit for about 5-10 minutes in the pans. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks before packing them in plastic bags.
- Makes 3 regular size Portuguese Sweet Breads.
Another delicious yeast bread to try is Healthy Multi-Grain Bread Recipe. 9 grains, whole wheat flour and honey bake into 4 homemade loaves of multi-grain yeast bread for sandwiches, or 40-50 dinner rolls. Follow the directions in this recipe to make Portuguese Sweet Bread Diner Rolls.
Donna Diegel - Donna Diegel is an experienced baker and published author with more than 25 years of experience in the food industry.
