Most Brazilians simply can’t start their day without a fresh, warm piece of bread for breakfast, right? There is nothing quite like a slice of homemade bread with butter. Today’s recipe is a braided bread, which is surprisingly easy to make. Let’s get started!
Ingredients for braided bread:
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash);
- 5 cups all-purpose flour;
- 2 teaspoons salt;
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar;
- 2 whole eggs;
- 1 egg yolk;
- 1 ¾ cups warm milk;
- 1 package (approx. 2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast.
How to make braided bread:
- In a small bowl, combine the warm milk and yeast. Stir until the yeast is completely dissolved.
- Let it rest for about 15 minutes, or until the mixture becomes creamy and frothy.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the 2 eggs, egg yolk, sugar, and salt.
- Whisk the yeast-milk mixture into the egg mixture until well combined.
- Gradually add 3 cups of flour.
- Mix well until incorporated.
- Gradually add the remaining flour.
- Add about ½ cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Once the dough comes together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and easy to handle.
- Place the dough on a floured board or tray and divide it into 2 equal parts.
- Let it rest for 20 minutes.
- Divide each part into smaller strands and roll them into long ropes to create your braids.
- Press the ends of the strands together to seal the braid.
- Place on a baking sheet, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let rise until doubled in size (about 40 minutes).
- Brush the top of the bread with the reserved beaten egg.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 15 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for another 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
All done! Now, just brew some fresh coffee and slather your bread with butter!
Serving Suggestions:
If you prefer a sweeter treat, you can turn this into a sweet bread by brushing it with a sugar glaze, drizzling with condensed milk, or even stuffing the dough with chocolate hazelnut spread or doce de leche (caramelized milk jam) before baking. It’s delicious!
A Little Bread Trivia:
Sweet bread is a staple in Brazil and Portugal, with recipes varying widely by region. In Rio de Janeiro, for instance, a common bakery-style sweet bread features a soft dough topped with vanilla custard, syrup-soaked fruit, and fondant or glaze. Throughout Brazil, you’ll find countless versions topped with sweet creams, sugar, and cinnamon (Source: Wikipedia).
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