Everything Braided Bread

This is so good and a very easy bread to make, and it looks pretty too!!

What you need:

  1 package (1/4 ounce)baking yeast
  3/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
  1 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
  1/4 cup butter, softened
  2 tablespoons sugar
  1 egg yolk
  1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  1 egg white
  2 teaspoons water
  1 teaspoon each:
  coarse sea salt , dried minced onion, sesame seeds and poppy seeds
 

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, butter, sugar, egg yolk, salt and 2 cups flour. Mix it all together for a couple of minutes.  Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough into thirds. Shape each into a 20-in. rope. Place ropes on a large greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375°. Combine egg white and water; brush over dough. Combine salt, onion and seeds; sprinkle over bread. Bake 22-28 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.



The ingredients:

Place the warm water in a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast on top and give a quick mix with a whisk….let sit for 5 minutes:

Add the warm milk, butter, sugar, egg yolk, salt and 2 cups flour and mix:

Slowly add the rest of the flour(as needed) to make a dough:

Take the ball out of the ball and knead for 6-8 minutes on a floured service.  Add more flour as needed so the ball is like elastic and not sticky.


After 6-8 minutes but the dough ball in a greased bowl:

Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm place for an hour…until the dough doubles.


Once that is done:

Punch it down, take out of the bowl, and separate into 3 balls:

Roll each ball into a rope that fits your pan:(it will get smaller once you braid it)

Grease the pan and braid your bread, pinching and tucking the ends in:

Take a pice of plastic wrap and spray it with cooking spray.  Place on top of the braid.  Bring the pan to a warm place and let it sit for 45 minutes until doubled:



Mix the egg white and water and brush over the braid.  Sprinkle the sea salt, onion, and seeds over the top:

Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 22-28 minutes:

This bread was very good.  The only changes I may try for next time…increase the yeast a bit and make two smaller braids.


Enjoy!!