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Easter Braided Bread

Author: Catherine's Plates

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 1/3 cup flour divided
  • 1 pkg active dry yeast
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 5 hard boiled eggs, colored
  • 1 egg yolk, whisked

Instructions

  • In a medium sauce pan combine, salt, sugar, butter, and milk. Warm over low heat to about 110 - 115 degrees.
  • In large electric stand mixer, combine 1 cup flour and yeast. Add your warm milk mixture and combine. Add 2 eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and lemon zest. Mix to combine at high speed for 3 minutes.
  • Add 1 1/3 cup flour. Beat for 5 minutes to form a stiff dough.
  • Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
  • Once dough has risen, place onto a floured work surface. Punch and knead dough briefly. Form into an oval and cut into 3 even pieces. Roll out each piece into a strand around 28 inches. Repeat other two.
  • Place all 3 strands onto a parchment lined baking pan and pinch 3 ends together. Start braid from the closed side. Bring the open side of braid to the closed side and make a circle, closing the end together to form the cirlcle.
  • In between the braid openings place your colored eggs around the braid. Place one in the center. Cover braid and let rise an additional 30 minutesf.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Brush egg yolk mix onto dough. (Do not brush egg yolk onto eggs)
  • Bake for 25-35 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before slicing.