Easy Braided Bread Loaf
Soft and pillow bread with a delicious chewy crust. This beautiful braided bread is the perfect beginner recipe to expand your bread baking knowledge, or if you just want a simple delicious bread loaf that looks bakery worthy!
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups milk 300 ml
- 1 teaspoon sugar 5 ml
- 2 ¼ teaspoons dry active yeast 1 package
- ⅓ cup butter, softened 76 g
- 1 teaspoon salt 5 ml
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour 500g-600 g
- 1 egg for egg wash
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl by hand, add the milk, sugar, and yeast.
- Set aside and allow the yeast to soften and become foamy.
- Add to the bowl, the butter, salt, 2 lightly beaten eggs, and the flour.
- Mix and knead until you have a smooth dough. (About 5 minutes in a mixer or 8 minutes by hand.)
- Cover and allow to rise 1 hour.
- Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 equal pieces.
- Roll the strands into thin equal length strips about 24 in. (60 cm) long.
- Place the strands parallel beside each other and pinch them at one end.
- Braid the strands by using a weaving, over-under-over-under technique until you reach the end.
- Pinch the opposite end together and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Cover and allow to rise, in a warm spot, until doubled. About 30 minutes.
- Lightly beat the last egg in a small bowl.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 ºF (190 ºC)
- Brush the top of the loaf with the egg wash.
- Bake the loaf for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool slightly, slice, and serve.