• Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cooking Time: 25 mins
  • Serves: 2 loafs

Swiss Braided Bread

  • Recipe Submitted by on

 Ingredients List

  • 1½ cups whole milk
  • 1½ Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 3 tsp. salt
  • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 packet (1/4 oz.) Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling the dough
  • olive oil
  • Egg Wash
  • 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
  • 1 Tbsp. water

 Directions

In a small sauce pan, heat milk just until you see bubbles form around the edges (do not boil); remove from the heat. Stir in sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons of butter; mix until butter has melted and sugar and salt has dissolved; set aside to cool until lukewarm.
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 tablespoons of lukewarm tap water. Stir in milk mixture but make sure it is lukewarm (to test - dip your finger and count to 10 without getting burnt).
To the same bowl, add the egg and half of the flour. Mix with a wooden spoon. Add the remaining flour and continue mixing as much as you can with the spoon until the the mixture begins to resemble a rough ball.
Using your hands, knead the dough inside the bowl for 10 minutes. If your bowl is not big enough, knead the dough on a lightly floured surface.
Brush the inside of a large separate clean bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the greased clean bowl; cover with clean dish towel and let rise in warm place (like the stovetop - just make sure the stove is off) for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into two equal balls. Form each ball into 3 pieces and roll out each piece into 14-inch "snakes".
Braid the "snakes" by pressing the 3 pieces together very securely at one end and braiding as you would a girl's hair. Seal the second end by pressing three pieces together and tucking under the loaf.
Brush two baking sheets with olive oil. Place the loafs on the greased baking sheets.
Brush each loaf with the remaining 1 tablespoon of melted butter; cover with a dish towel and let rise in a warm place (like the stovetop) for additional 50-60 minutes.
Combine the egg yolk with water and brush each loaf with the egg wash.
Bake the bread for 20-25 minutes in a preheated 400F oven or until golden brown.

 Share this Recipe

Recipes by Course

Recipes by Main Ingredient

Recipes by Cuisine

Recipes by Preparation

Recipes by Occasion

Recipes by Dietary

Sign Up and Create a Cookbook Today!

Please Sign in to your Account or Sign up if you are new user.

Who loves our Healthy Recipes?