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Fairy Bread

By Ali Slagle

Updated Sept. 10, 2025

Fairy Bread
Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
4(188)
Comments
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If you go to a children’s birthday party in Australia or New Zealand, you are very likely to find fairy bread: triangles of untoasted white bread covered with margarine or butter and “hundreds and thousands” (you can use round rainbow sprinkles stateside). Fairy bread is a much-loved treat with fairly murky origins; one variation is hagelslag, a Dutch treat that uses chocolate sprinkles instead of rainbow-colored rounds. After one bite of fairy bread, it is clear why the combination of soft bread, creamy butter and crunchy, sugary sprinkles is beloved by so many — and may be soon by you, too.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 serving (but easily multiplied)
  • 1slice white sandwich bread
  • Butter, softened, or margarine
  • Hundreds and thousands, or round colored sprinkles
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

83 calories; 2 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 14 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 137 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Spread the slice of bread edge-to-edge with butter (about ½ tablespoon, depending on the size of your bread). Transfer to a lipped plate, then sprinkle with enough sprinkles to cover the entire surface of bread. Spread the sprinkles to fill in empty holes, then tilt the bread so that extra sprinkles roll off (you can press those into the butter). Cut in half on the diagonal before eating.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
188 user ratings
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Comments

Kikeena

It's easier and more effective to put the 100's and 1000's in the plate. Then press the buttered bread butter side down into them. Less mess, easier and more consistent coverage. I also prefer to cut the crusts off. As an Aussie, I still love fairy bread, 60 year later.

petals356

Oooo Ale! Don’t be cheeky..this Delicacy can be found in many exclusive restaurants around the South Island!! Fresh White Bread,thinly spread NZ Butter and 100s&1000s sprinkled over the top! A bunch of Cheerios and Sawce and…. Boom Shake the Room!!!! A Party!!!

Little girl grown big

Maybe good for young children, but for a slightly more sophisticated palate, we prefer the tried and true cinnamon-toast: toast bread slices, then slather on with butter/margarine or even schmaltz, followed by a sifted sprinkling or complete covering (depending on taste) of cinnamon and white/brown sugar (either combined or sequentially. Or, if you prefer a more caramelized version, spread on the creamy fat first, then the cinnamon and sugar, and then toast. Twists: pinch of salt, maple syrup

Elaine

Wow! Wow! Just wow! This was great for my kids 50th birthday! But in my opinion you don’t need 100,000 sprinkles..The girls at mahjong really liked it but for us it is a fair bit too sweet. But nonetheless this is an Aussie classic! Do I love it? Yes! Will I make it again? If I can find the ingredients! But not with white bread, I much prefer sourdough.

Jeff

‘Cooking’ brought to you by an m elevated glycemic index…

MG San Diego

I was raised by an Australian mother (vegemite YUM!!) on a budget and this was part of my childhood. I had no idea it was a staple Down Under.

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