This Braided Bread with Poppy Seeds is a lovely bread, easy to make, and only slightly sweet. Great for a late Sunday morning breakfast, with a thick layer of butter or as a French Toast.
Prep Time3 hourshrs
Cook Time35 minutesmins
Total Time3 hourshrs35 minutesmins
Servings: 1loaf
Author: Marinka
Ingredients
1cuplukewarm water
2.2poundsall-purpose flour
21tablespoonsugaror honey
2teaspoonsyeast
1.5teaspoonssalt
2eggs
2ouncesbutter
1tablespoonpoppy seeds
Egg wash
1egg
1tablespoonwater
Instructions
Mix flour, sugar, yeast, salt, eggs, butter, and water in a bowl. Use a stand mixer or wet hands to incorporate all the flour.
Knead the dough a little bit, create a ball. Cover bowl and allow to rest and rise in 1-2 hours.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Dust your counter with flour and knead the dough a few times. Cut in 5 equal pieces and roll each out, forming a rope with a length of approx. 12 inches. Each strand has the same length.
Now the braiding starts. Push the 5 strands together at 1 end and start braiding and push the strands together at the other end.
5 strands makes for a more complicated braid. Take the right strand and pull it over 3 strands, so it becomes the 2nd from the left.
Move the left strand to the right, over 2 strands, so it becomes the middle one. Now move the 2nd strand from the left and pull it over the middle strand. At this stage you will end up with a braid on the left side of the strands.
Now repeat the process. Pull right strand over 3 strands, then pull 2nd strand from the left and pull over the middle one. Etc.
At the end push the strands together. Place the bread on the baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
While the oven is warming to 350 degrees F, make the egg wash by mixing 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water.
Brush the bread with the egg wash and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
Place bread in the oven and bake for approx. 35 minutes or until golden brown.