How to Make Fairy Bread

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 29, 2021

Fairy bread is a classic Australian kids' treat. It is easy to make: spread a bit of butter over plain white bread, and then sprinkle the bread with hundreds and thousands (sprinkles). Use rainbow sprinkles for a colorful look, or chocolate sprinkles for a twist.

Ingredients

8 slices of fluffy white bread
1/2 cup hundreds and thousands (or colorful sprinkles)
1/2 cup butter (or non-dairy substitute)

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Preparing Fairy Bread

1
Use white bread. Fairy bread is traditionally made with plain, fluffy white bread. However, feel free to mix it up by using another type of bread per your preference.^{[1]
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- You can cut off the crusts, or leave them on, according to your preference. If you are making fairy bread for kids, consider taking off the crust.
2
Spread the bread thick with butter. Soften the butter, first, so that it is easy to spread. Lay down a thin layer of butter that covers every square millimetre of the bread surface. Make sure to use enough that the sprinkles will stick.^{[2]
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- Feel free to use margarine or another non-dairy butter. You can even use Nutella spread, for a twist. Traditional fairy bread, however, is made with dairy butter.
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3
Cut the bread into triangles. It is traditional to slice each piece of bread in half, into two equally-sized triangles. However, feel free to get creative and use any shape you want.^{[3]
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Research source} Try hewing the bread into circles, hearts, stars, or any other shape that catches your fancy. Use cookie cutters for any easy job, or design your own shapes with a sharp knife.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Decorating Fairy Bread

1
Sprinkle hundreds and thousands on top. First, pour the sprinkles onto a plate. Then, gently press each slice into the sprinkles, butter-side down. The hundreds and thousands should stick to the bread. Make sure to cover every square millimetre with color! Finally, shake the loose sprinkles onto the plate.^{[4]
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- Alternately, simply sprinkle the hundreds and thousands onto the bread with the buttered side up. It may take more time to achieve the same sprinkle density.
2
Get creative. Consider adding other toppings for a nontraditional twist on fairy bread. Add jelly beans, sugar, chocolate chips, coconut shavings, or your favorite candy – anything that catches your fancy.
3
Serve. Fairy bread is a staple at children's parties, but it can be a great treat for anyone.^{[5]
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Research source} Try making fairy bread on Australia Day to celebrate the tradition. Arrange the slices on a plate, and make sure to clear away the loose hundreds and thousands!

Community Q&A

Question

Is fairy bread healthy?

Banana Head

Top Answerer

Fairy bread is meant as a party snack, like cupcakes. Since it's covered with sprinkles and butter, it's not very healthy.
Question

Can I use less butter for the fairy bread?

Community Answer

You can use a thin smear of butter but the sprinkles may fall off. Try a nut butter or a non-dairy spread if you'd prefer, or low-fat cream cheese
Question

Can fairy bread be made a day ahead, or is it best to make it on the day it will be served?

Community Answer

It is best to make it the day you serve it, so it is not soggy from the butter.