Tsoureki (Greek Easter Bread)

This eye-catching braided loaf is traditionally baked with a red-dyed egg on top.

Makes
2 loaves
Time
1 hour 30 minutes, plus rising and cooling

PHOTO: MATT TAYLOR-GROSS • FOOD STYLING: BEN WEINER

Updated on April 1, 2026

Tsoureki is a sweet, brioche-like Greek Easter bread that’s braided and shaped into a circle or two long loaves. It’s typically perfumed with mahlepi, the seeds of Mediterranean wild cherries, and adorned with red-dyed eggs, which signify spring and new life, while the deep crimson hue represents the blood of Christ. The Lenten fast is traditionally broken with tsoureki, magiritsa (a lamb soup finished with avgolemono sauce), and a bowl of red Easter eggs. You can also sprinkle the loaves with sesame seeds or sliced almonds after brushing them with egg wash in step 5.

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk, warmed to 100°F
Two ¼-oz. packages active dry yeast
9–10 cups cake flour, divided, plus more for dusting
1½ cups sugar, divided
2 tsp. mahlepi
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for greasing
6 large eggs, divided
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest
1 Tbsp. grated orange zest
2 red-dyed hard-boiled eggs

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Instructions

Step 1

In a large bowl, stir together the milk and yeast until the yeast is dissolved. Stir in 1 cup of the flour and ½ cup of the sugar. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside until bubbly and slightly risen, about 1 hour.

Step 2

To a small bowl, add the mahlepi and ½ cup of simmering water and soak for 5 minutes. Strain into a liquid measuring cup, discarding the mahlepi, and set the liquid aside to cool.

Step 3

To the yeast mixture, stir in the mahlepi-scented liquid. Mix in the butter and 5 of the eggs. Sift in the salt, 8 cups of the flour, and the remaining sugar. Add the lemon and orange zest and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until smooth, about 10 minutes. Form into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Step 4

Return the dough to a floured surface. Divide into 6 pieces, rolling each piece into a rope about 15 inches long. For each loaf, tightly braid 3 ropes, then press 1 dyed egg near the end of each braid. Set aside on a lightly greased baking sheet until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Step 5

Meanwhile, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg. Brush the bread with the beaten egg and bake until golden, 40–50 minutes. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes before serving

In a large bowl, stir together the milk and yeast until the yeast is dissolved. Stir in 1 cup of the flour and ½ cup of the sugar. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside until bubbly and slightly risen, about 1 hour.
To a small bowl, add the mahlepi and ½ cup of simmering water and soak for 5 minutes. Strain into a liquid measuring cup, discarding the mahlepi, and set the liquid aside to cool.
To the yeast mixture, stir in the mahlepi-scented liquid. Mix in the butter and 5 of the eggs. Sift in the salt, 8 cups of the flour, and the remaining sugar. Add the lemon and orange zest and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until smooth, about 10 minutes. Form into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Return the dough to a floured surface. Divide into 6 pieces, rolling each piece into a rope about 15 inches long. For each loaf, tightly braid 3 ropes, then press 1 dyed egg near the end of each braid. Set aside on a lightly greased baking sheet until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg. Brush the bread with the beaten egg and bake until golden, 40–50 minutes. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes before serving