Jen Coleman
This bread is an Amazing Bread . Nothing beats a good homemade bread any time of the week .. This bread is well know for being made during the Holidays it is a Jewish Bread. This kinda Bread is a great bread for French toast and it is also great for just cutting a slice and putting butter on the bread .This bread is a great bread to make all year around and just because of the great look of the this bread it is very easy to make and everyone should try to make it ..
Ingredients :
2 cups of Lukewarm water ( around 110 F don't go to hot or too cold or the yeast will die or not activate if the water is not just right
2 Tablespoons of active dry yeast
1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar (divided )
7 cups of all purpose Flour ( plus more if needed )
1 tablespoon Kosher salt
4 large eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Olive Oil
Egg wash (2 eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons water .
poppy seeds or sesame seeds ( for topping )
Instructions :
In a Small Bowl or you can use your stand mixer , Sprinkle the yeast over the water and add the Tablespoon of Sugar . Then stir the yeast and the sugar together then let it sit for about 5 mins . The yeast should then start to bubble and become frothy . If the yeast doesn't do that it could mean that the yeast is not good anymore or the water was too hot and you killed the yeast or it was not warm enough ..
2.) In either your stand mixer or a larger mixing bowl you need to whisk together the 7 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar , and the salt . What ever kinda bowl you are using you are going to want to make a well in the middle if the flour and add the eggs and the melted butter. If you are using a stand mixer make sure you are using the dough hook on the mixer . If you are using a stand mixer turn it on slow and while it is starting to mix pour in slowly the Yeast mixture . As the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl the dough will start to become shaggy and sticky dough . If you like you can either let the stand mixer do all the work and let it knead the dough until the dough becomes smooth about 6-8 mins. I don't like to have the mixer knead the dough I find that it will not mix it all the flour and ingredients the best . I like to sprinkle flour on the counter top and knead the dough by hand for 6-8 mins. I find in doing that you will make sure all the ingredients will mix better and you will be able to get all the air bubbles out better and the bread will come out softer in the end . If the dough is too sticky when you put it on the counter go ahead and add a tablespoon at a time some flour don't add to much flour cause you can't remove flour if you add to much at once ..
3). Once you have Knead the dough for at least 6-8 mins and the dough is nice and smooth . You can divide the dough in have and put each half into a lightly oiled bowl and cover the bowl and put into a warm spot so the dough can go though it's 1st rise . Or you can just put your dough into one bowl that you lightly oiled and then cut the dough in half after it rises . Once the dough is in the bowl you need to let it rise for at least 60 -90 mins
4.) Once you have let the dough sit for at least 60-90mis you want to punch the dough down and either you need to cut the dough or if you used 2 different bowls you will want to work with one mound of dough at a time . You will need to cut the dough into 3 equal parts roll each piece of dough into three long ropes about 16 inches long and about 1 inch thick . I will tell you if the dough is shrinks as you are trying to roll the dough let the dough sit for about 5 mins and that way you are letting the gluten relax . After about 5 mins then go back at it and roll out the dough into the 3 ropes . After you have 3 ropes you will want to take the 3 ropes and at the top squeeze them together and then take the ropes and start to braid them just like you would braid your hair . When braiding them make sure they are nice and tight all the way down . When you get to the bottom make sure you take the 3 ends and squeeze them together and I like to tuck the bottom under you don't have to just make sure you squeeze the ends together .
5). You will then repeat step 4 with the other mound of dough you have
6). After you have your bread all braided then you will Gently take it and move it to a baking sheet . I like to have either a cooking mat on the cooking sheet pan or you can use parchment paper . Once you have done that you will need to cover the bread with a dish towel and set on the counter for about 1hr for it 2nd rise. Once it has gone through it's 2nd rise the bread should be nice and pillowy and double in size .
7). Once the 2nd rise is done you will want to pre heat your oven to 350 with your rack in the middle of the oven .
8). Before you put your bread in to cook you will want to take 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons of water and make an egg wash .Then you will want to brush your bread with the egg wash before cooking the bread . If you would like before cooking the bread you can sprinkle your bread with poppy seeds or some sesame seeds . ( That is how they will normal serve the bread .) I baked them plain since that is the way my kids like that.
9). Once you have egg washed the bread you will want to pop them in the oven at 350 and bake the bread for 30-35 mins . I start with the lower end of the time you can add time you can't take it away . You want to bake the bread until it is nice and golden brown or it is 190 in temp .
10). Once the bread comes out I take 2 tablespoons of butter and melt it and then I brush the bread with melted butter on top you don't have to do this at all since it will change then bread . It will make the top of the bread nice and soft if you don't like that you can leave it the way it is and cut into it and put some butter on it and enjoy .
Notes:
Storing Left overs : you can keep the bread on the counter for 4 days . I like to put the bread in plastic wrap or i like to get little bread loaf bags from Amazon and they come with little ties and then take out what I need and close it up .
Freezing : you can also freeze the bread just make sure you wrap the bread in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and make sure you wrap it tight so it will not get freezer burn . The bread you can keep in the freezer for 2-3 months . when read to eat just take out and let it come to room temp and enjoy .
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