Course bread, Breakfast, brunch, Christmas, Dessert, Side Dish
Servings 1loaf
Ingredients
1¼cupwarm milk
½cupgranulated sugar
1tspsea salt
2Tbspyeast(heaping tablespoon)
2large eggs
1/3cupmelted butter
4cupsall-purpose flour
Optional Add-Ins
raisins
dried cranberries
orange zest
lemon zest
Optional Toppings
drizzle frosting made from powdered sugar and milk
cherries
pecans
walnuts
Egg Wash
1largeegg
1tspwater
Instructions
To make the dough:
In a stand mixer, mix together lukewarm milk, granulated sugar, and salt. Add in yeast. Stir just until combined, then allow to rest for 6 minutes, or until your mixture turns frothy.
Stir in eggs and melted butter. Mix to combine. Add in all-purpose flour until your dough sticks together. Kneed for a minute or two.
Coat a clean bowl lightly in oil, add your bread dough to the bowl, then cover it with a damp cloth. Place your bread dough into a warm, dry location. Allow it to rise until it doubles in size (this may take about 2 hours).
To braid the dough:
After your bread dough has risen, punch the dough down, and then kneed into a ball. Divide the ball into four even sized pieces. Take three out of the four pieces of dough and roll them into long, even shapes, like breadsticks.
Line the three longs of bread dough up beside each other. Start in the center and begin braiding to the end. Pinch the end together and tuck it underneath. Repeat the process with the remaining side.
Lightly grease a baking sheet and place the braided bread on top.
Next, take your remaining section of dough, and divide it into three even sections. Roll the sections into long pieces of dough. Braid the dough together and tuck the ends under.
Place the smaller braid on top of the larger braided bread. Cover them with your damp cloth and allow them to rise for 45-60 minutes or until your braided bread loaf is double in size.
To bake:
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Bake your braided bread for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Egg Wash
In a small mixing bowl, whisk one large egg with 1 teaspoon of water. Brush the egg wash all over your loaf of bread.
Place the braided bread back into the oven and bake for another 6-8 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven, and allow it to fully cool.
Optional Toppings
After your braided bread has fully cooled, you can top your loaf of bread with an optional drizzle of frosting by mixing powdered sugar and a little bit of milk together until it reaches your desired consistency.
You can also top your bread with cherries, pecans, or walnuts if you wish. These had a lovely decoration to your bread.
Optional Bread Dough Add-Ins
If you are looking to mix things up a little more with your braided bread, you can also try mixing into your bread dough ingredients like raisins, dried cranberries, lemon zest, orange zest, or even nuts.
These add-ins are optional, but they spice up your bread and make it even more lively, elegant, delicious, and fun!
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