Yeast Loaf

Ingredients

• 600 g flour
• 42 g fresh yeast (1 cube)
• 250 ml lukewarm milk
• 125 g sugar
• 125 g butter
• 2 Eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tbsp milk

Instructions

1. 1.

   Place the flour in a bowl and press a well into the center. Crumble the yeast into it, stir with some lukewarm milk, 1 tsp sugar and a little flour, and let the pre‑mix rise covered at a warm spot for 15 minutes. Melt the butter and add it to the pre‑mix along with the remaining milk, sugar, and eggs; knead carefully. On a floured work surface, knead the dough vigorously until it bubbles and releases from the bowl edges. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30–45 minutes until doubled in size. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) fan‑heated. Knead the dough again briefly.

2. 2.

   Roll out on a floured surface to a thickness of 2–3 cm and cut into six strips.

3. 3.

   Roll each strip into a coil about 30–40 cm long.

4. 4.

   Stack three coils at one end, press together, braid into a loaf, press the bottom together, tuck the seam underneath. Place the loaf on the prepared tray and let rise covered for another 10 minutes.

5. 5.

   Whisk the egg yolk with milk and brush over the loaves. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes until golden brown. Remove, cool, and serve.