Sweet braided bread, with its golden crust and fluffy interior, is a beloved treat that has graced tables for generations. It is a versatile bread that can be enjoyed on its own, or paired with a variety of toppings and fillings. Whether you are a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this guide will provide you with the essential steps and tips to create a perfect sweet braided bread that will impress your friends and family. With careful attention to detail and a bit of practice, you will be able to master the art of braiding and baking this delicious bread, filling your home with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked goodness.
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SWEET BRAIDED EASTER BREAD
Delicious egg bread made with eggs, orange zest, and anise egg wash for an "eggstra" special flavor! A slightly sweet bread good by itself or toasted, especially with coffee or tea. You can even use it for French toast or bread pudding. I make this every year for my family at Easter. A special treat they look forward to once a year! The colored eggs are great fun too and add to your holiday decor.
Provided by Sandis Take
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Egg
Time 3h35m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Combine milk, oil, salt, orange extract, 2 eggs at room temperature, sugar, orange zest, 4 cups of flour, and yeast in a bread machine, in that order. Set to Dough cycle and start the machine; be sure to peek inside while dough is mixing and add additional flour as needed to create a soft, but not wet, dough.
- Transfer dough to an oiled bowl and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a rapid simmer and add 4 whole eggs to soft boil. Continue to simmer for 6 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool quickly.
- Punch risen dough down and turn onto a floured surface. Divide into 3 even pieces. Roll each piece to form about a 1 1/2-inch thick rope that is 12 inches long. Take the pieces and braid them together, pinching the ends. Loop into a circle and pinch the ends to close. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Align boiled eggs evenly about the braid and push in gently, about 1/3 of the way down. Cover and let rise again, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Combine remaining room temperature egg, 2 tablespoons water, and anise extract in a bowl for egg wash. Brush braid with the egg wash, being careful not to get any on your boiled eggs or while baking they will have cooked wash on them and won't dye nicely.
- Bake in the preheated oven, switching between another parchment-lined baking sheet every 10 minutes throughout baking time to prevent the bottom from getting too dark, until browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool thoroughly, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Paint your eggs on the bread with liquid food dye. Be careful not to drip on the bread. Let dry, about 10 minutes. Brush bread with anisette liqueur and let dry before serving, about 5 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 315 calories, Carbohydrate 45.3 g, Cholesterol 105.5 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 9.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 147.5 mg, Sugar 12.6 g
SWEET BRAIDED BREAD
A deliciously sweet and rich bread that is braided for a beautiful centerpiece on the table. Add rainbow sprinkles for a more festive look.
Provided by Jenn L.
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes
Time 2h10m
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl. Beat eggs and egg yolk together in a small bowl. Scoop out 2 tablespoons of beaten egg; keep refrigerated.
- Preheat the oven to 170 degrees F (75 degrees C).
- Combine sugar, margarine, and salt in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until dissolved. Add warm and cool cream to the bowl. Stir in yeast mixture. Beat in eggs. Add flour 1 cup at a time, blending well between additions.
- Turn dough out onto a floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Spray a clean bowl with cooking spray. Place dough inside and spray the top.
- Cover dough with a dish cloth. Turn off oven and place dough inside. Allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Remove dough from the bowl and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Split in half; split each half into thirds. Roll each section of dough into long, 24-inch snakes. Braid 3 together, making sure to secure the ends. Repeat with the remaining 3 sections.
- Reheat the oven to 170 degrees F (75 degrees C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Transfer braids to the cookie sheet.
- Turn off oven. Let braids rise in the warm oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove braids from the oven and brush with reserved beaten egg. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bake braids in the preheated oven until tops are golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 257.9 calories, Carbohydrate 36.9 g, Cholesterol 56.1 mg, Fat 9.8 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 5.5 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 158.9 mg, Sugar 8.6 g
BRAIDED SWEET BREAD
This recipe comes from my best friend's aunt. It is a wonderful, chewy sweet bread that I can't keep my hands off of whenever I make it! Just a great, simple sweet bread recipe.
Provided by Manda
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 2h35m
Yield 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix together water, warm milk, and yeast.
- Add melted margarine, sugar, salt and flour.
- Knead dough, place in bowl, cover and let rise in warm place 1 hour.
- Divide dough into 6 parts.
- Shape dough into 6 long pieces (length of baking sheet).
- On baking sheet, braid 3 of the pieces together like you would hair, then braid remaining 3 pieces together.
- Cover and let raise 1 more hour.
- Brush beaten egg on top and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
Tips:
- Use active dry yeast that is not expired. Old yeast may not activate properly, resulting in a dense, heavy bread.
- Proof the yeast in warm water (105-115°F) for 5-10 minutes before adding it to the other ingredients. This will help ensure that the yeast is active and will produce a light, fluffy bread.
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. This will help develop the gluten in the flour, which will give the bread a chewy texture.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour. This will give the yeast time to produce carbon dioxide gas, which will cause the bread to rise.
- Braid the dough into the desired shape and place it on a greased baking sheet. Let the dough rise again for 30 minutes before baking.
- Bake the bread in a preheated oven at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Conclusion:
Sweet braided bread is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is easy to make and can be customized with a variety of fillings and toppings. With a little planning, you can make this bread in advance and freeze it for later. When you are ready to eat it, simply thaw the bread overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a few hours. Then, warm it up in the oven or microwave and enjoy!
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