Braided Bread Perfection

There is nothing better than freshly baked homemade bread. Unless, of course, if you ever-so-slightly sweeten that bread, enrich it with eggs (and extra yolks) and butter, beautifully braid it, and top it off with a crystallized sugar coating. My braided sweet bread is both extremely simple but also so far from basic. It’s tender with just the right amount of gluten-y chew, fluffy with an appropriately subtle sweetness, complex in appearance but surprisingly simple to actually make. Oh, and it will make your house smell amazing.As someone who used to fear even the sight of a sachet of yeast, let me tell you that if I can handle this recipe, you can too. I’ve come a long way in my bread baking journey, and what I’ve learned is that there’s not really much to be scared of. Today I’m walking you through all the steps so that your sweet bread comes out just like the pictures. Make sure to watch the how-to video in the recipe card and read through the whole post before beginning, and you’ll be well on your way to braided bread perfection. Let’s get to it!

What You Need

The dough that I use for today’s recipe is essentially the same as the one I use for my sticky buns. There’s a reason for that, and the reason is that this is one of the best, most tender, softest bread doughs I’ve ever made. It’s delicious, perfectly chewy and enriched with a few key ingredients. Here’s what you need to make it: Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post.

How to Braid Bread

My sister taught me to braid this bread (she spent a few years at a Subway during college) and insisted I do a 4-piece braid (rather than a classic 3-piece) because it’s “prettier”. I agree with her. While it might seem complex, it’s really quite simple. Here’s how it’s done: You’ll notice that we start with the center of the bread. This is how I was taught and not only does this make it easier, it also helps make for a more symmetrical bread than if we just started from one end. Tip: Braid your bread directly on the baking sheet! This is easier than braiding it on your counter and then trying to move it.

More Recipes You Might Like

Dinner RollsHomemade BreadCinnamon RollsHow to make Bagels

Enjoy! Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card! 

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