Braided Bread / Treccia

MAKES 1 LOAF

Whether dressed with whole eggs baked into the dough for Easter, studded with citron or candied orange peel and nuts for Christmas, filled with juicy raisins for a special breakfast bread, or served plain, braided breads are always festive.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup warm (110 to 115F) water
  • 3 tablespoons warm (110 to 115F) milk
  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 to 2 1/2 cups King Arthur™ Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • INGREDIENTS

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the warm water and milk. Add the yeast and sugar and stir to dissolve. Cover the bowl with a towel and let the yeast proof for about 5 minutes, until foamy.
  2. Add the egg yolks, olive oil, 2 cups flour, and the salt to the yeast mixture and mix with your hands until a ball of dough is formed, adding more flour if the dough is very soft. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth.
  3. Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil. Add the dough, turn to coat, and cover tightly with plastic wrap and then a towel. Let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  4. Punch down the dough, turn it out onto a floured surface, and knead it for a few minutes. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 16-inch-long rope. Pinch the ropes together at one end. Lay the rope on the left over the one in the middle, then lay the rope on the right over the middle, and so on to the ends of the ropes, creating a braid. Pinch the ends together. Grease a cookie sheet, and place the braid on the sheet.
  5. Gently brush the entire surface of the braid with the beaten egg and sprinkle on the poppy seeds. Let the braid rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
  6. Preheat the oven to 375F. Bake the braid for about 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Remove to a rack to cool.
  7. Note: Once the bread has cooled completely, it can be wrapped tightly in foil and frozen for up to 3 months.
  8. Variation: Add chopped olives, slivers of raw squash or pumpkin, or fried minced prosciutto or ham for special occasions. Sesame seeds, anise seeds, or coarse sea salt may be sprinkled over the top instead of the poppy seeds.
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Comments

Judi hill

I am planning on making this today as it is Easter. I am deciding to add the fruit and raisins or add the meat and cheese. MIT will be a gift to friends and they always live my bread with meat and cheese. I may double it and try both. I will then leave a comment on the results. I have all your books and enjoy trying recipes from my Italian family heritage to compare. Thanks
Judi Hill

Gary Di Franco

I loved this recipe. Crispy crust and light crumb – perfect for sausage and peppers hero! I used bread flour and needed a little less than 2 cups to incorporate dough. I let the first rising go for 2 hours in the oven on proof cycle. Second rising 1 hour. I applied egg wash and sesame seeds just before baking so the entire surface of the proofed dough would be covered.

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