I love anything that brings magic to the every day, especially during the holidays. What do I love even more? EASY ways to bring more magic! Have you ever heard of fairy bread? If you’re in the US you may not be familiar, but apparently it’s a nostalgic treat in Australia and New Zealand. If you have a little one who is a fan of Bluey then you might want to make some and then cuddle up while you’re watching “Verandah Santa” for the ultimate Aussie holiday night in. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Keep reading for the easy instructions on how to make fairy bread.
what is fairy bread?
Originating in Australia, it is a whimsical and nostalgic treat that has been around for generations. Dating back to the 1920s, the first known reference can be found in a magazine article:
“The children will start their party with fairy bread and butter and 100s and 1,000s, and cakes, tarts, and home-made cakes…”
Hobart Mercury, April 1929
The concept is simple enough– fresh white bread generously spread with creamy butter and covered with a generous sprinkle of “hundreds and thousands,” or nonpareils. The point (and initial popularity) being that it was an easy treat that was made of inexpensive ingredients. Supposedly, fairy bread continues to be a cherished part of Australian culinary culture, although discussion boards on the topic seemed mixed.
| Read: My Favorite Sourdough Bread Pudding Recipe |
how to make fairy bread
Fairy bread is super simple to make and according to true Aussies there is ONE WAY to make it. You must use white bread–thick and soft white bread. The slices must be covered in butter from edge to edge, preferably salted butter. Similarly, the “hundreds and thousands” (aka. nonpareils, not jimmies) must be covering the whole surface. Then the bread slices should be cut into triangles. Yes, the shape of the bread matters, apparently. Hey, who am I to argue with a nostalgic treat of a country I’ve never been to? The combination of flavor, texture, and appearance is what makes it true fairy bread.
a tasty twist
Like, I said, there is one true way to make authentic fairy bread. That being said, I did try a variation that, personally, I enjoyed even more. Using cream cheese in place of butter, and sanding sugar in place of the nonpareils created a sweet and simple dessert treat that takes this treat up a notch.
did we like fairy bread?
In truth, our family was split on whether or not we liked fairy bread. I enjoyed both, although I thought the cream cheese variation was much more enjoyable. My husband was not a fan of either–but he also doesn’t really like cream cheese or most sprinkles. My son is a big texture eater, so for him this was a pass, since it’s a bid of an odd texture combo. As for my girls, they were divided–some preferring the butter version and some like the cream cheese variation better. You’ll just have to try it out to see how your family likes it! Luckily, you probably already have the ingredients at home so it is a simple treat to try.
An easy traditional Aussie kid's party food.
- butter
- white bread
- "hundreds and thousands" (nonpareils)
- cream cheese
- white bread
- sanding sugar
Have you ever tried this nostalgic treat before?
