Braided Easter Bread Recipe: A Stunning Holiday Centerpiece

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 0.25 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 0.67 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 large eggs
• 5 large whole eggs, dyed if desired
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

1. Gather all of the necessary ingredients for your braided Easter bread.
2. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
3. In a small saucepan, gently heat the milk and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Heat until the butter is softened, but not completely melted (about 2-3 minutes).
4. Gradually add the warm milk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring continuously. Incorporate ½ cup of flour and two eggs, mixing until well combined. Add the remaining 1 ½ cups of flour in three separate additions, stirring well after each addition, until the dough begins to pull together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it becomes smooth and elastic, approximately 8 minutes.
5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and allow the dough to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in volume (about 1 hour).
6. Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half and gently form each half into a round shape. Cover the rounds and let them rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, butter a baking sheet to prevent sticking.
7. Roll each dough round into a 36-inch-long roll, approximately 1 ½ inches thick. Loosely twist the dough and form it into a ring on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring there are five spaces evenly distributed around the ring for the eggs.
8. Carefully seal the ends of the ring together to maintain its shape. Gently set the whole eggs into the reserved spaces within the dough. Cover the loaf loosely with a damp towel and allow it to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in volume (about 45 minutes).
9. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush the risen loaf generously with melted butter for a beautiful golden crust. Bake in the preheated oven until the loaf is golden brown, approximately 30 minutes.
10. Serve and enjoy your beautiful Braided Easter Bread!

Nutrition

• Calories: 257 kcal
• Fat Content: 9 g
• Fiber Content: 1 g
• Sugar Content: 6 g
• Sodium Content: 307 mg
• Protein Content: 9 g
• Cholesterol Content: 144 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 35 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g