Polish Egg Bread

Prep Time:
40 mins

Cook Time:
35 mins

Additional Time:
2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time:
3 hrs 45 mins

Servings:
30

Yield:
6 loaves

Ingredients

Directions

Dissolve yeast in 1 cup lukewarm water in a bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, bring milk to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; add remaining 1 cup lukewarm water, butter, and 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon salt; stir until butter melts. Stir in sugar until dissolved.

Cool milk mixture until lukewarm, then stir in dissolved yeast mixture.

Beat eggs in a separate bowl until combined; whisk in milk mixture, then gradually mix in flour.

Transfer dough to a floured work surface; divide in half, using a serrated knife. Shape each half into a ball; place dough balls into 2 large greased bowls. Cover with greased plastic wrap; let rise in a warm place for about 1 ½ hours.

Lightly grease 3 baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Turn dough balls out onto a well-floured surface. Divide each dough ball into 3 equal pieces (6 pieces total); form each piece into a ball. (Dough will be very sticky and soft at this point.) Keep covered with greased plastic wrap.

Working with one ball at a time, divide 1 dough ball into 3 equal pieces. Form each piece into 3 ropes; braid together and place onto half of 1 prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining 5 dough balls. You should be able to fit 2 braided loaves per baking sheet. Cover loaves loosely with plastic wrap; let rise for about 1 hour. 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Bake in the preheated oven until hollow-sounding when tapped on top of loaves, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool before slicing.

Cook’s Note

For a shiny, glossy, deep-brown crust, brush the braided loaves with an egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon cold water) before baking.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)