What is fairy bread?
Fairy bread is a simple Australian party treat made of white bread spread with butter or margarine and covered in hundreds and thousands, the tiny coloured sprinkles. It is usually cut into triangles.
Fairy bread has been a fixture of Australian children's birthday parties since at least the early twentieth century. The name may come from a poem called Fairy Bread in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1885 collection A Child's Garden of Verses, though its exact origin is uncertain.
The treat is quick to make and needs only three ingredients. The butter helps the sprinkles stick, and the bright colours make it popular with young children.
Party classic
Fairy bread is often served alongside other Australian party foods, such as cocktail frankfurts, sausage rolls, chocolate crackles and cupcakes. Many adults feel nostalgic when they see it.
It is also popular in New Zealand. In recent years, cafes and dessert makers have created fairy bread-inspired treats, such as ice cream, cheesecakes and doughnuts.
Australians sometimes celebrate fairy bread with themed days and events, and it is a common sight at school fundraisers and community fairs. It is simple, cheap and colourful, which helps explain its lasting appeal.
Did You Know?
In Australia, the colourful sprinkles used for fairy bread are called hundreds and thousands.