Sweet Braided Easter Bread
This Sweet Braided Easter Bread is soft, golden, and lightly sweet – the perfect centerpiece for your spring celebration!
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
⅔ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 large eggs for the dough
5 raw eggs colored with food coloring
1-2 teaspoons avocado oil for greasing a large bowl, or any oil of your choice
2 tablespoons butter, melted
sprinkles
Instructions:
Using a stand mixer, combine 2 ½ cups of flour, ¼ cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and 2 ¼ teaspoons of dry active yeast. In a small bowl, warm ⅔ cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of butter in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Pour the milk and butter mixture into the flour, add 2 eggs, and knead with the mixer for about 10 minutes. Then, knead by hand on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth.
Grease a bowl with avocado oil, place the dough inside, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled.
Deflate the dough, divide it into two equal balls, and roll each into a 36-inch-long roll. Twist them together, placing 1 dyed egg in each loop for a total of 5 loops. Seal the ends and place on oiled parchment paper on a baking sheet. Cover and let rest for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with colorful sprinkles. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.
Optional Glaze: Mix ½ tablespoon of lemon juice or milk with ½ cup of powdered sugar and glaze over warm bread. Enjoy!
Recipe Courtesy of Munchkin Time Blog.
