Fairy Bread — Australian buttered bread with hundreds-and-thousands
Fairy bread is the canonical Australian children's party food: thin slices of white bread, generously buttered, and pressed face-down into a plate of rainbow sprinkles (hundreds-and-thousands) so the entire surface is covered in colour. It is then cut diagonally into triangles.
i. Origin & history
Fairy bread has been served at Australian children's parties since at least the 1920s. The name comes from a Robert Louis Stevenson poem. New Zealand has the same tradition. The sprinkles must be hundreds-and-thousands — small round non-pareils, not the rod-shaped sprinkles.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 8 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 8 slices soft white sliced bread
- 100 g unsalted butter, very soft
- 100 g hundreds-and-thousands (rainbow non-pareils)
iii. Method
- Spread each slice generously with soft butter — corner to corner.
- Place sprinkles in a wide shallow tray.
- Press each buttered slice firmly face-down into the sprinkles, lift, and check the coverage.
- Cut each slice diagonally into 4 triangles.
- Arrange on a plate. Eat the same day.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Anything else is not fairy bread. No alternative sprinkles, no alternative bread. The recipe's simplicity is the whole point.
vi. Common questions
What is fairy bread?
Fairy Bread is australian buttered bread with hundreds-and-thousands, from oceania cuisine. It is then cut diagonally into triangles
Where is fairy bread from?
Fairy Bread is from the oceania dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does fairy bread keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: Same day.