With only 6 Staple Pantry Ingredients, this plaited loaf is really easy to make. It will soon be your go-to recipe!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Proofing Time1 hourhr
Total Time1 hourhr45 minutesmins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: braided, braided bread, instant pot bread, plaited loaf
Servings: 4
Calories: 302kcal
Author: Sandhya hariharan
Ingredients
500gStrong White Bread Flour
7gInstant Fast Action Dried Yeast
1tspSalt
1tspSugar
15gOlive Oil or Softened Butter
325 - 340mlWarm Water
Egg Wash/ Milk Wash
Instructions
KNEAD THE DOUGH
Add flour, salt, sugar and yeast to the mixing bowl of the stand mixer.
Add butter and water in 3 parts to the dry mixture. Stir it to combine well with a silicone spatula.
Attach the dough hook and turn the mixer on to medium speed and mix until the dough is kneaded well. This will approximately take 5 minutes.
Alternatively to knead by hand, add all the ingredients in a bowl and knead until soft. This can take up to 20 minutes.
HOW TO PROOF THE DOUGH ?
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 hour at room temperature or until it doubles the size.
Remove the cling film/ plastic wrap. Deflate the dough by punching down lightly.
HOW TO PROOF DOUGH IN INSTANT POT?
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. I always use my Google Home OR external timer for a 30 minutes reminder. When the timer beeps, cancel the yogurt setting. Open the lid to see the raised dinner roll dough.
Deflate the dough by punching down lightly.
BRAID THE DOUGH & SECOND RISE
Pinch pieces of the dough and Divide them into 3 Pieces or 5 Pieces and roll them into long equal portions of ropes.
Braid the dough ropes just as you would do your hair and tuck them under to seal.
Transfer the braided dough to a sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Brush the rolls with milk or egg wash.
BAKE THE BRAIDED BREAD
Preheat oven to 200 C. Position the Tray into the middle shelf of the oven and bake the plaited loaf for 25-30 minutes until cooked through or until the top is golden brown.
If the loaf bread are getting a bit brown, cover them with a foil sheet and continue to cook.
Remove the bread from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack. Slice and serve them with your favourite spread like this Homemade Strawberry Jam.