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Traditional Italian Dove Bread for Easter (Colomba di Pasqua)

This traditional Italian dove bread for Easter is made in many homes and sold before Easter in Italy and around the world. In Italy, Colomba di Pasqua literally translates to “Easter Dove”.

colomba di Pasqua

Columba di Pasqua, or an Italian dove cake, is basically a panettone, but shaped into a dove-like form. (I honestly have questioned the shape, but I suppose it’s difficult to make a cake/bread look like a delicate bird.)

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colomba di Pasqua

Let’s just say you have to use your imagination and it’s more of a symbol for peace and the Holy Spirit on Easter, than anything else. You can make it in addition to another Easter cake: an Italian pigna di Pasqua.

pigna di pasqua with eggs

This brings us to the part where I discuss how to make this shape. You honestly don’t have to use a paper case or mold, but as I commented above, even Italian dove bread that is professionally made doesn’t look like a dove to me.

Have you made my Italian Easter bread rings?

Italian Easter Bread Rings

At first, I couldn’t find the baking mold, then when I found it–it was too expensive as I’d have to buy in bulk, so I decided to make my own. I’m happy with the result, since we’re just going to eat it anyway. Updated 2023: I’ve added photos of a colomba I made in the paper case, too.

cutting colomba di Pasqua

Whether you make the dove bread with or without a mold, the end result will still be delicious. If by chance, you don’t finish it before it starts to get stale, it makes the best bread and butter pudding!

close up of chocolate and orange bread pudding in a ramekin
And it makes fabulous French toast!

If you like using yeast, please give my PERFECT YEAST DOUGHNUT recipe a try! It’s incredibly good!

Perfect Yeast Doughnut on more doughnuts

Pretty pastel springtime Easter cookies.

flower Easter cookies / flower biscuits

Without further ado, I present to you the recipe for~

torta di Pasqua

Traditional Italian Dove Bread for Easter
(Colomba di Pasqua)

adapted from a Sunset panettone recipe             makes one large loaf

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Special equipment: a dove shaped paper baking case or heavy duty aluminum foil (optional) and a pastry brush

Place the water, egg yolks, vanilla, and grated peel into the bread machine first. Next add the sugar, salt, flour and pieces of butter around the outside of the metal pan on top of the flour (see photo below). Make an indentation in the flour and add the yeast. Start the bread machine on “dough” setting.

Making colomba di Pasqua (dove bread) in a bread machine.Keep an eye on the dough after it’s finished and allow to rise until doubled in size.

To make the mold. Cut pieces of aluminum foil and fold them over and over to make a long strip (see my photo below). Join them together with metal paper clips and shape into a “dove” shape. I didn’t have heavy duty aluminum foil, but this type would be best as it holds it’s shape better. (Alternatively, buy the paper case.)

making Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead into a ball then cut 1/3 of the dough off and shape into a log. Shape the larger piece into a larger log which will be the main part of the Italian dove bread.

making Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

The larger piece will go lengthwise into the mold and be the body of the dove, while the smaller piece will go across the top and become the wings. Place the dove shaped dough into the oven (with the oven off) and allow to rise until at least doubled (probably 2 to 3 hours).

making Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

When the bread has finished rising, remove it from the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C.

Beat the egg white, corn starch, almond meal, and regular sugar with a fork in a small bowl until well combined. I used almond meal which has the peel in it and it still looks fine when baked.

making the glaze

Brush this over the top of the dove bread.

glazing the bread

Next, scatter the Belgian and/or Swedish pearl sugar over the top, and dot with whole almonds.

Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

Bake for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 325°F/160°C and continue to bake until a long, thin skewer comes out clean (about another half an hour). If the top browns too quickly, cover with aluminum foil. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the tray for about 15 minutes.

As you can see, my “dove” doesn’t look too dove-like! I honestly don’t mind, but if you do, buy those paper baking cases.

Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

Remove the aluminum foil after the bread has cooled. This bread will keep for a week or so, and remember that it’s great for making those bread puddings I told you about, as well as French toast, if it gets a wee bit stale. Enjoy your own homemade Italian dove bread!

Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

Buona Pasqua and Happy Easter!

Colomba di Pasqua or Italian Dove Bread

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colomba di Pasqua

Traditional Italian Dove Bread for Easter (Colomba di Pasqua)

Yield: 1 loaf
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours

A traditional Italian Easter bread made in the shape of a dove.

Ingredients

  • 6 oz (175 ml) warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • ½ c (113 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp each of grated lemon and orange rind (preferably from organic fruit)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ c (113 g) good quality unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
  • 3¼ cups (454 g) organic, unbleached flour (bread flour is best, but all purpose or plain works too)
  • 1 pkg dry yeast (preferably for bread machines, but any type will work-I used regular)

Topping

  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tsp corn starch
  • 1/4 cup (40 g) ground almonds
  • just under ⅓ c (65 g) sugar
  • Belgian pearl sugar and/or Swedish pearl sugar
  • whole almonds

Instructions

  1. Place the water, egg yolks, vanilla, and grated peel into the bread machine first. Next add the sugar, salt, flour and pieces of butter around the outside of the metal pan on top of the flour (see photo below). Make an indentation in the flour and add the yeast. Start the bread machine on “dough” setting.
  2. When the machine is finished, allow to rise until doubled in size.
  3. To make the mold. Cut pieces of aluminum foil and fold them over and over to make a long strip (see photo in post). Join them together with metal paper clips and shape into a "dove" shape. I didn't have heavy duty aluminum foil, but this type would be best as it holds it's shape better. Alternatively (and a better option), use a paper dove mold.
  4. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead into a ball then cut 1/3 of the dough off and shape into a log. Shape the larger piece into a larger log.
  5. The larger piece will go lengthwise into the mold and be the body of the dove, while the smaller piece will go across the top and become the wings. Place the dove shaped dough into the oven (with the oven off) and allow to rise until at least doubled (probably 2 to 3 hours).
  6. When the bread has finished rising, remove it from the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C.
  7. Beat the egg white, corn starch, almond meal, and regular sugar with a fork in a small bowl until well combined. I used almond meal which has the peel in it and it still looks fine when baked. Brush this over the top of the dove bread.
  8. Next, scatter the Belgian and/or Swedish pearl sugar over the top, and dot with whole almonds.
  9. Bake for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 325°F/160°C and continue to bake until a long, thin skewer comes out clean (about another half an hour). If the top browns too quickly, cover with aluminum foil. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the tray for about 15 minutes.
  10. Remove the aluminum foil after the bread has cooled. This bread will keep for a week or so, and remember that it's great for making those bread puddings I told you about, if it gets a wee bit stale.

Notes

If you cannot find the paper dove mold, you can shape your own using aluminum foil. It won't look as nice, but will taste exactly the same.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 187Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 87mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g

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33 Comments

  1. Hi thank you for posting this lovely recipe of the “Colomba” it’s our tradition Easter Sweet Bread since I’m visiting my son this year in London I brought back a paper pan and going to try this one for Easter this year, bringing back some memories when they were little living in Italy!

    1. Oh you are so welcome, Alma! That’s a lovely thing to do, and I’m sure everyone will love it! I always look forward to the Italian Easter bread, too! The one with eggs and icing (I have that recipe too, if you’d like it)! Enjoy! (Btw, sorry for the delayed response, for some reason your comment was in my spam. No idea why!)

    2. Great Recipe!
      I made mine in a round panettone pan. I did not have time to make a dove shape.
      Made one 7″ round and 7 cupcakes size. It tuned out great. Rose very high in both sizes in a controlled heated proofing area.
      I had to lower the temperature to 325.300 F to prevent it darkening too much.
      Thank you for letting me make a successful product.

  2. Hi Christina, This looks great! I am anxious to try it. I wonder if you or anyone has a recipe for a BREAD stuffed with ground ham and ricotta that is Italian supposedly.

  3. Lovely colomba di Pasqua, Christina! Some year I will make this – this year we are traveling for a family wedding, and Easter itself will be spent in the air! Happy Easter!

  4. Oh, that is a new way to do the colomba. And I love the idea of the mold!This morning I just did a fast version I found (in Italian) and transformed it into gluten-/sugar free. But I have a recipe that worked well on my blog already. Easter without the colomba is no Easter for me. Happy Easter Christina!

  5. This looks great! Will have to pull out the bread machine and try it. Leftover panettone makes awesome French toast as well! This bread would also be great as French toast. Thanks for posting it.

    1. It’s so easy in the bread machine and it is perfect for French toast as well, I’ll have to add that to my post! Thanks for the reminder and Happy Easter to you!