Learn How to Create a Magical Treat with Fairy Bread
Fairy bread is the quintessential childhood party snack, full of nostalgia and fun memories. Its simple base ingredients of white bread, butter, and sprinkles make it easy to make and appeal to even the pickiest eaters!
Whether you’re planning an upcoming birthday party or just looking for a creative new snack idea, this classic treat has the potential to become your go-to option.
Learn how to make fairy bread with our step-by-step guide, plus check out some of our favorite ways to get creative with alternative toppings. Your little ones will love bringing magic into their playtime snacks!
Australian fairy bread. Credit: canva
So this is how to make fairy bread. You spread butter generously on white bread slices, sprinkle with hundreds and thousands, and serve.
This simple recipe is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Plus, it’s super easy to make – let us show you how!
It’s a slice of bread with butter, and colorful sprinkles called 100s & 1000s on top.
This classic party food is popular in Australia and New Zealand, but it’s easy to make wherever you are.
It is the perfect snack for kids’ parties, birthday parties, school functions, or any time you need a quick and easy treat.
Why is it called fairy bread?
There are a few different stories about how it got its name.
One story says that two Australian sisters, Helen and Margaret Anderson, created the recipe in the 1920s. They named it after the fairies in the children’s book they were reading at the time, called The Fairy Cake Cookbook.
Another story says that Scottish immigrants in the 1800s created fairy bread. They called it “fairy cake” because it was a treat their children could enjoy even on a tight budget.
It may also come from Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “Fairy Bread” from A Child’s Garden of Verses, published in 1885 and used to describe various food.
Why is fairy bread famous in Australia?
One reason is that because Australia is such a melting pot of cultures, it is a way to bring everyone together. Another reason is that it’s a cheap and easy-to-make snack.
Australia even has a special Fairy Bread Day dedicated to the dessert.
Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that it is a beloved part of Australian culture.
Does fairy bread taste good?
Yes, it does. It is sweet, buttery, and crunchy – everything a good snack should be! The combination of soft basic bread with rich butter and sugary sprinkles is irresistible.
Fairy bread with hundreds and thousands. Credit: canva
How to Make Fairy Bread at home
It’s so easy! All you need is some white bread, butter, and 100’s & 1000’s (also known as sprinkles).
Pick your bread
Any white sandwich bread will work for this recipe, whether store-bought or homemade.
Slice the bread into pieces that are about thumb-sized.
Spread the bread with margarine or butter
Use a generous amount of butter on the slices of bread – this is not the time to be stingy!
You can either use a knife to spread the butter or melt it and brush it on with a pastry brush.
Once the bread is evenly coated with butter, it’s time to add the sprinkles.
Sprinkle with 100’s & 1000’s
Also known as nonpareils, the 100’s & 1000’s (hundreds and thousands) are tiny colorful balls made from sugar. The multicolored sprinkles are the perfect topping!
Sprinkle them on top of the buttered bread, and you’re done.
Cut it in half (optional)
The bread is typically cut diagonally into triangles. This makes eating easier for kids and allows more surface area for the sprinkles!
If you want to play with shapes, you can cut the bread into cute shapes like triangles and circles or use a cookie cutter for hearts or stars, depending on the party theme.
You can either cut the bread before or after you add the sprinkles.
It is best served fresh, but it will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two.
Can you make fairy bread the night before?
If you make it ahead of time, store it in an airtight container at room temperature. The bread will soften overnight, but it will still be delicious!
Should I refrigerate fairy bread?
No, you don’t need to refrigerate it. It’s best to be kept and served at room temperature. If you refrigerate it, the bread will not look and taste good.
Homemade fairy bread. Credit: canva
Variations and Recipes
Traditional recipe
Ingredients
Store-bought eight slices white bread
Spreadable butter (or margarine)
1 cup sprinkles (100’s & 1000’s)
Instructions
Cover slices of white bread with plenty of spreadable butter to begin. Be generous and distribute the butter to the edges (where the sprinkles will adhere).
Using a spoon, carefully add hundreds and thousands of sprinkles on top of the buttered bread. I find it easiest to do this by spooning over the sprinkles using a dessert spoon.
Finally, cut your bread slice into triangles. Serve immediately.
Healthy fairy bread recipe
Even fairies are aware that you can’t eat sweet foods all the time. The goal is to make nutritious meals taste and seem insanely delicious.
Ingredients
Six slices of wheat bread
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
One medium avocado
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp candy-coated sunflower seeds
Instructions
Use a bread knife to remove the crusts from the bread. Set aside.
Slice the bread into triangles.
Combine cream cheese, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and avocado in a mixing bowl. Blend until you have a smooth spread.
Spread evenly onto the bread slices.
Finally, top with sunflower and chia seeds to cover the entire surface. Serve right away.
Hagelslag. Try using bread with chocolate sprinkles in place of the sugar. This treat is popular in the Netherlands, known as “hagelslag,” which translates to “hailstorm.”
Margarine with Rainbow Jimmies. Try using margarine instead of butter and rainbow jimmies for a classic American take.
Cinnamon Sugar Fairy Bread. This variation is simply delicious! Yum!
Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread with Chocolate Sprinkles. This variation is sure to please any chocoholic! Cut into triangles and enjoy! Top with chocolate sprinkles. You can replace the Nutella with peanut butter or cream cheese.
Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread with Gold Sanding Sugar. This variation will please anyone who loves a little bit of sparkle! Top with gold sanding sugar. Cut into triangles and enjoy!
Fruit and Nut Fairy Bread. Try topping your bread with dried fruits and nuts. We like apricots, raisins, almonds, and pistachios. Yum!
Caramel Spread with Freeze Dried Raspberries. Spread a generous layer of caramel spread on your bread. Top with freeze-dried raspberries. Cut into triangles and enjoy!
Caramel Spread with Confetti Sprinkles. This variation is sure to be a hit at any party! Spread a generous layer of caramel spread on your bread. Top with confetti sprinkles.
FAQs
Are you supposed to toast fairy bread?
No, you don’t need to toast it. All you need to do is add the toppings.
What are 100’s & 1000’s?
100’s & 1000’s are tiny colorful balls of sugar. The candy sprinkles come in various colors, but the most common color is white.
They are sold in most grocery stores in Australia. They are sometimes referred to as nonpareil sprinkles in other countries.
Is fairy bread high in calories?
No, it is not high in calories. One slice with 100’s & 1000’s contains only about 200 calories.
