Brioche Braid

Hi, Everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful, restful weekend! It's a cold, snowy evening here; everything always looks so peaceful and silent when a light snow is coming down. And even though it is so cold outside, there is something so comforting about watching it from a warm and cosy living room! And I have a recipe to share with you that's guaranteed to make your home  even more cosy, and fill it with the delicious, homey smell of bread baking in the oven! This Brioche Braid is perfect for a cold night, to have with a warm cup of tea or hot cocoa. It is wonderfully light, buttery and soft, and tastes so good with some homemade jam or a thin (or not so thin!) spread of Nutella! 

BRIOCHE BRAID

(Recipe from The Baking Bible)

*Makes one braid*

YOU WILL NEED:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter

2 tbs granulated sugar

1 package instant dry yeast

2 eggs

1/4 cup lukewarm milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. First, sift the flour and salt into your electric mixer bowl. Combine them, then add the butter, and mix until the mixture resembles coarse meal, then add in the yeast and the sugar and mix again.

2. With the mixer running, add the eggs one by one, then add the milk (make sure it's not too hot, otherwise the brioche won't rise well), and mix until a soft dough begins to form. Using your dough hook attachment, knead the dough for about 5 minutes, until it's soft and elastic.

3. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, then divide your dough in three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 14-inch rope, then make your braid, pinching down the ends and tucking them under the braid. Cover the braid with a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place, for about an hour.

4. Preheat your oven to 375deg F, then bake the brioche braid for about 25 - 35 minutes, until it's golden brown and the inside has baked through (if it begins to brown too much, cover it with foil after about 20 minutes). Let cool for a couple minutes before slicing. 

Happy Baking, Everyone!

I will be linking to:

Makin' You Crave Mondays, Delightfully Dowling, Skip to My Lou, The Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Tatertots and Jello, Savvy Southern Style and Be Different, Act Normal.