Braided Bread

This easy braided bread recipe makes a delicious loaf of homemade bread.

Braided bread makes a delicious loaf of soft bread. Thankfully, this braided bread only looks difficult!

The dough is easy to work with, and I’ve included step-by-step photos below to help you make perfect bread.

Ingredient notes

• Warm water: It’s important that the water be at the right temperature. I highly recommend investing in a kitchen thermometer. If you don’t have a thermometer, the water should feel just a little hotter than bath water. If the water is too hot for you, it’s too hot for the yeast.
• Active dry yeast: You can substitute an equal amount of instant yeast.
• All purpose flour: You will only want to add as much flour as you need to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. I usually use about 3.5 cups of flour.
• Neutral oil: Oils like vegetable oil, canola oil, or light olive oil will work well.

How to make braided bread

Step 1: Add the warm water, yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Let the mixture stand until foamy, about 5-10 minutes.

Step 2: Stir in the oil and the eggs until combined. Add 2 cups of flour and the salt.

Step 3: Mix on low for 30 seconds. Switch to the dough hook.

Step 4: Continue to mix on low, adding in 1/4 cup of flour at a time, until the dough forms a ball and clears the sides of the bowl. The dough should a little sticky to the touch but shouldn’t come off on your fingers if you pinch it.

Step 5: Cover the bowl in plastic wrap or with a kitchen towel.

Step 6: Let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch down the dough and turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.

Step 7: Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope that’s 15 inches long.
Step 8: Grease a large baking sheet or line with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

Step 9: Place the 3 ropes parallel to one another lengthwise on the pan.

Step 10: Pinch the top of the ends together.

Step 11: Braid the ropes together.

Step 12: Pinch the ends together and tuck the ends underneath the braid.

Step 13: Loosely cover the braid with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rise for 45 minutes. Toward the end of the second rising time, preheat the oven to 375 F.

Step 14: To prepare the egg wash, stir together the egg and the cream. Brush the egg wash over the dough.

Step 15: Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Let the bread cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes.

Step 16: Remove to a wire baking rack to cool to room temperature.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

Store any leftover bread in a resealable container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

More bread recipes!

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