Easter Bunny Sourdough Bread
This Easter Bunny Sourdough Bread is a fun and festive twist on classic sourdough, shaped into an adorable bunny that's perfect for your spring table. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients and naturally fermented for rich flavor, this recipe brings a touch of creativity and charm to your Easter celebration. Whether you're gifting it, serving it at brunch, or baking with kids, this delightful bread is sure to bring smiles all around!
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups (315g) warm water
- ½ cup (120g) active sourdough starter
- 2 tsp (10) salt
- 3 ½ cups (420) all-purpose flour
Instructions
Mixing the Dough
- In a large bowl, combine warm water and sourdough starter.
- Stir until well blended.
- Add flour and salt.
- Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
Bulk Fermentation
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
- Perform 3–4 sets of stretch and folds over the next 2 hours.
- Cover and let ferment at room temperature overnight (8–12 hours) until doubled.
Shaping the Bunny
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
- Cut off small pieces to shape ears and a tail. You can add feet if you desire, but this one does not have any (I did not want him hopping away! Haha! J/K)
- Assemble on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Shape the main dough into a round body.
- Wet an area where the ears and tail will be.
- Shape 2 pieces of dough into an oval for the ears and adhere them to the top of the bunny as shown in the photo.
- Roll another small piece of dough into a ball and adhere it with water on his back just behind the ears. (It may seem weird to put the tail so close to the ears, but trust me, the bread (body) will expand during the baking process, and the tail will end up where it needs to be.)
- I brushed mine with an egg wash for a golden color.
Final Proofing
- Set the shaped bunny aside on the parchment paper while the oven and Dutch oven are preheating.
Baking the Bunny
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Carefully lift the bunny with the parchment paper and place it into a hot Dutch oven. You can put a lid on it during the first 10 minutes of the baking process, then remove it for the remaining baking time. I did not use a lid on this day.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes or until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
Cooling the Bunny
- Let the bread cool completely before serving.
- Add him/her to a cute easter basket as a centerpiece or a wooden cutting board for the table.