BRAIDED BREAD RECIPE + Video

BRAIDED BREAD 

These Braided Loaf bread are too good to miss! With just 6 Staple Pantry Ingredients, your artisan style bread is so easy to make -  it will soon become your go-to recipe.

Perfect Everyday Bread loaf recipe - Ideal accompaniment for breakfast with my 3 Ingredients Instant Pot Strawberry jam or with Butternut Squash Soup.

Learn to how to make this Three Strand Plaited Loaf Bread Recipe with detailed instructions. { Video Tutorial included }  You got to try it NOW!

 CHALLAH LIKE BREAD - Perfectly Baked PLAITED LOAF every Single Time!

I loved making dinner rolls, breads, naan breads and lots of flatbreads. But somehow before I actually snap pictures of breads, they all seem to be gone from my kitchen!

I know how much you all lovely SOFT DINNER ROLLS - LADI PAV RECIPE.

My house smelled just like a bakery today and my family kept coming and peeping into the oven. Aroma of the freshly baked bread is so enticing!!
We are pretty lucky, that this time, I managed to make two loaves at the same time and this did give me an opportunity to snap pictures.

We have a Ginormous Braid! It's soft, delicate, pillow-y and oh so perfect in texture!

This recipe measurement works well for Four, Five, Six and Eight Strand Plaited Loaf too! 

PLAITED ARTISAN WHITE BREAD RECIPE

This recipe for Braided Bread is literally dump, knead, proof, braid and bake to make delicious homemade loaf. How easy is that!!

To make this vegan challah bread, I use my stand mixer and let the dough hook do all the kneading for me.  I also use my Instant Pot to proof my dough!

I really cannot do without my STAND MIXER AND INSTANT POT for Fresh Homemade Bread Recipes ! Both these gadgets are absolute timer savers right from kneading the dough to proofing.

Since I am using Instant Fast Actioned Dried Yeast,  you don’t have to activate the yeast separately and wait for it get frothy. But do check the expiry date on the Yeast packet before using.

WATCH A QUICK VIDEO ON HOW TO MAKE BRAIDED WHITE LOAF BREAD

TIPS FOR MAKING EASY WHITE PLAITED BREAD AT HOME

Measure out the Ingredients for White Braid Plait Recipe - Weighing out the ingredients is absolutely essential for a perfect loaf bread.  Keep in mind, the quantity of flour will vary depending upon the location and weather. You might even need to add more flour or less flour depending upon the humidity and altitude

WATER -  Using Warm water is essential for the recipe. Unlike Dinner Rolls, milk is not required for this recipe.  Amount of water required is between 310 - 325ml. I would suggest adding in 2 - 3 additions to judge the amount of water needed.

Time of the day also is crucial in deciding this. When I was kneading my dough late afternoon, my dough turned out to be a little sticky with 325 ml. So I added a little more flour to offset the stickiness. I think this is also because of the heat and humidity in the weather.

At the same time, when I was kneading my dough in the morning, this proportion worked perfect. I did not require any extra flour to the recipe.

Butter or Olive Oil - Either of them work great to make our plaited loaf bread. I do use either of them, depending on whats quicker to reach!

Check the Expiry Date for Yeast -  Yeast plays an essential role in our bread recipes, so it is required to have a validity period.

PROOFING THE DOUGH is an essential step. You can do it in the Instant Pot or in the conventional method using Greased Bowl. Both the methods work really well. However Instant Pot proofing speeds up the process.

Eggwash or Milkwash  is a key step too. This will lend a gorgeous sheen on the bread– too good to resist.

Position the baking tray in the lower rack as this will prevent the bread from burning.

HOW DO YOU KEEP HOMEMADE BREAD FRESH?

Store homemade bread at room temperature in a cool dry place for up to 2-3 days. When the weather is hot and humid, it can lead the bread to mold. Storing the bread in the refrigerator can stale it quickly.

HOW TO MAKE BRAIDED BREAD?

To make Soft Braided Bread Loaf, you will need only 6 ingredients

Strong Bread Flour

Warm Water  – Use warm water instead of hot or cold water.

Instant Yeast – I like to use Instant Fast Action dried yeast in my recipe. This will save us additional time for activating and foaming.

Salt

Sugar

Softened Butter or Olive Oil– If you are using Softened Butter, room temperature butter will work best!

PROOFING THE BREAD DOUGH

BREAD PROOFING is an essential step for any pillowy bread. However this can be daunting too!

A lot of factors needed to be considered when it comes to PROOFING { Allowing the dough to first rise and second rise }. Sometimes there can be too much humidity, too much chillness and what not.

Proofing in the Instant Pot works well in all conditions.  If you do not have an Instant Pot, use the second method, which is universally known.

HOW TO PROOF DOUGH IN INSTANT POT ?

This Instant Pot hack makes the dough proofing quick and easy!  Be it dinner rolls or braided bread or vegan challah bread, I find proofing dough in Instant Pot works great every single time, irrespective of the weather and time!

Grease the Inner Pot of the Instant Pot with butter/ oil.

Place the dough in the greased pot.  Close the lid and leave the knob in venting.

Select the Yogurt Setting and set the external timer for 30 mins. When the timer beeps, cancel the yogurt setting. Open the lid to see the dough doubled.

Deflate the dough by punching down lightly.

HOW TO PROOF THE DOUGH WITH GREASED BOWL?

If you don’t have an Instant Pot or your Instant Pot does not have a Yogurt button, use this method.

Grease a large bowl and transfer the kneaded dough to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or damp towel. Allow the it rise for 1 – 1 ½ hours at room temperature or until it doubles the size.

Before I had an Instant Pot, I would place the prepared bowl inside the Oven with the light switch on. This trick also helps in creating a warm atmosphere for the dough to rise.

Remove the cling film/ plastic wrap. Deflate the dough by punching down lightly.

BRAID & SECOND RISE

1. Punch the dough and divide them into three or five equal portions. Roll them them into long ropes and braid / plait them together just like braiding your hair.
2. Transfer the bread to lined baking sheet. Cover with towel for a second rise. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes – 45 minutes depending upon the weather and altitude.
3. Brush the rolls with milk or egg wash.

BAKE THE BREAD

1. Preheat oven to 200 C.  Position the Tray into the lower shelf of the oven. Bake the plaited load bread for 25- 30 minutes until cooked through or until the top is golden brown.
2. If the bread are getting a bit brown, cover them with a foil sheet and continue to cook.

3. Remove the rolls from the oven and brush the hot rolls with melted butter. Serve these plaited loaves immediately or store up to 3 days in an airtight container.

    

IF YOU LOVE THIS BRAIDED BREAD, 

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Instant Pot No Knead Bread

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Homemade Naan Bread

RECIPE FOR PLAITED LOAF BREAD - BRAIDED BREAD