Zopf Bread

Beautiful, fluffy, delicious white bread that is great for sweet or savory dishes.

Makes: 1 Loaf

Takes About: 4 Hours

Difficulty: 1 out of 5

Ingredients:

3 3/4 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon active dried yeast

1 egg

1 tablespoon honey

1 cup lukewarm milk

4 tablespoon unsalted butter - melted

1 egg yolk - the egg white will not be used

Prep:

Lay a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Warm the Milk

In a small sauce pan on low heat add 1 tablespoon honey, 1 cup milk, and 4 tablespoons butter and stir until the butter is almost melted.

Once the butter is almost melted, pull the pan off the heat and let cool.

The milk mixture should not be hot or cold, but worm (between 120-130 degrees F), because it could kill the yeast.

- Step 2 - Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, mix 3 and 3/4 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon yeast until well mixed.

- Step 3 - Make a Well and Mix

Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add the egg into the middle.

Once the milk mixture is at the correct temperature, pour it into the well with the egg and mix quickly until it starts to come together.

- Step 4 - Knead the Bread

Once the bread starts to come together dump it onto a clean counter and knead until smooth.

- Step 5 - Let Rest and Rise

Place the dough into a clean bowl with a tea-towel over it to let rise for two hours or until it has doubled.

- Step 6 - Get the Dough Ready for Braiding

Once the dough has risen, split the dough ball into three equal parts.

Roll each ball out into a 18-24 inch log.

- Step 7 - Braid the Bread

Make sure each log is the same length and then press one end of all the logs together.

To braid:

Pull the left rope over the middle and lay it between the middle and right rope.

Pull the far right rope over the new middle rope and laying it between the middle and left rope.

Keep going back and forth between the left and right ropes and pulling them over the middle rope until you reach the bottom.

Once the braid is finished, tuck both ends under the loaf.

- Step 8 - Cover and Rise

Lay the dough braid on the prepped parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap for 30 minutes to let rise.

As the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

- Step 9 - Egg Wash the Dough

Using a pastry brush, brush the last egg yolk over the dough.

The egg white will not be used, so use for another use.

- Step 10 - Bake

Bake the bread for 30-40 minutes or until the top of the bread is golden brown.

When knocking on the bottom of the bread, it should sound hollow.

- Step 11 - Slice and Enjoy!

Once the bread has finished baking, slice it up and enjoy it with butter, jam, sandwich goods, or some pickled herring.

Recipe found on "Chef in You."