Braided Sesame Seed Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 1/2 cups hot milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 eggs
• 6 1/2 cups flour
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds or 2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Recipe

• 1 into hot milk, stir sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup butter.
• 2 cool to lukewarm.
• 3 sprinkle yeast over warm water in bowl.
• 4 stir to dissolve.
• 5 stir in lukewarm milk mixture.
• 6 add 2 eggs and 3 cups flour and beat at high speed for 2 minutes.
• 7 with a wooden spoon gradually beat in 3 1/2 cups flour and mix with hand until dough is stiff enough to leave the side of the bowl.
• 8 knead for 10 minutes or until elastic.
• 9 place dough in lightly greased large bowl.
• 10 turn dough over to bring up greased side.
• 11 cover with towel and let rise for 1 1/2 hours in warm place.
• 12 divide dough in half and cut each half into thirds.
• 13 roll each third into 26" long strips.
• 14 braid three strips and pinch ends together.
• 15 on a large greased cookie sheet, form braid into a ring (6 inches in diameter).
• 16 mix egg with 2 tablespoons water and brush top.
• 17 brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter.
• 18 let rise 1 hour.
• 19 preheat oven to 375.
• 20 brush with rest of egg mixture and put sesame or poppy seeds on top.
• 21 bake 45 minutes or until golden brown.