on Nov 06, 2021, Updated Jun 18, 2024
Why You’ll Love Portuguese Sweet Bread
Traditional recipes like this Portuguese Sweet Bread are classics and passed down from generation to generation for good reason. They’re often so simple, use humble ingredients and tried and true techniques that, with some practice, anyone can master. I love the tender crumb of this sweet bread and the subtle 🍋 lemony sweetness.
How to Prepare Portuguese Sweet Bread
💧 Add the yeast, water and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and wait 5 minutes until the yeast activates.
🧈 Meanwhile, warm the butter and milk in a pot on low heat on the stove.
🥚 Once your yeast mixture is activated, add in avocado oil, the zest of a lemon, sugar, vanilla extract and 3 eggs.
🥛 Slowly whisk in the warm butter and milk mixture.
🌀 Add flour gradually until you reach 6 cups more or less but please look at the consistency. Once the dough pulls apart from the bowl, it’s ready.
🤲 Oil up your hands, shape the dough into a ball and then place it back in the bowl.
🥣 Now, cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise at room temperature away from drafts for 2 hours.
♨️ Once risen, divide into 2 and shape each half into a ball. Place each piece of dough into a baking dish lined with parchment paper.
⏲️ Cover the sweet bread and let it rise again for another hour.
🖌️ Brush each loaf with an egg wash and add a sprinkle of sugar on top if you’d like.
🔥 Bake uncovered in a preheated 350F (175C) oven for 45 minutes or until golden.
🌡️ If you are unsure if your loaves are done, you can insert an instant-read thermometer in the center of the loaf. The bread is ready when it is 190F (88C) in the interior.
😋 Let it cool completely and enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions for Portuguese Sweet Bread
Best Served With
Serve this Portuguese Sweet Bread as an after-dinner treat with coffee or tea. You can serve this for breakfast with butter and jam, clotted cream, cream cheese and fresh 🍓 fruit. Because this Portuguese Sweet Bread isn’t super sweet, you can absolutely also serve this with a savory lunch, with a simple 🥚 scrambled egg, my Zucchini Egg Bake or cold cuts.
Common Questions
