How to Braid Egg-Twist Breads

By
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/21/21
Baked braided egg bread (challah) on a marble slab ready to be cut

The Spruce / Leah Maroney
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Rising: 2 hrs
Total: 3 hrs
Servings: 30 slices
Yield: 1 to 2 loaf
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
149 Calories
4g Fat
25g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 30
Amount per serving
Calories 149
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 71mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 17mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 48mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

There is something about a braided bread that looks delicate, decadent, and absolutely professional. If you're new to baking bread, you might think this technique is hard to achieve. With a little practice, it's actually quite easy. If you know how to braid hair or string, the same method is applied to this dough. Once you have it mastered, you'll be baking braided bread for yourself, family, and friends. Use a kitchen thermometer to test the warm milk and water temperature.

These braiding techniques can be applied to braided egg bread known variously as Czech vanocka, Polish chałka, Jewish challah, Bohemian houska, and Hungarian fonott kalacs.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warmed milk (100 F to 110 F)

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter or margarine

  • 1 cup sugar, or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast

  • 1/4 cup water, (100 F to 110 F)

  • 3 large room temperature eggs, beaten and divided

  • 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup golden raisins, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a small bowl, or in the pot used to heat the milk, whisk together lukewarm milk (110 F), butter, sugar, and salt. Stir to combine and until butter is thoroughly melted.

    Wet ingredients for braided bread being whisked together
    The Sprude / Leah Maroney

  3. Place yeast and warm water (110 F) in the bowl of a stand mixer or large bowl. With the paddle attachment, mix until dissolved. Add lukewarm milk mixture and 2 eggs and combine. Add flour and continue to mix until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Add raisins (if using) and thoroughly combine. The dough will be sticky.

    Braided bread ingredients in a stand mixer and beaten until a sticky dough forms
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  4. Transfer dough to a clean, greased bowl. Turn dough over to grease the top and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Place in a warm, draft-free place and let rise until the dough has doubled (about 1 hour). You also can microwave your dough to help cut down on the rising time. 

    Braided bread dough rising in a clean dry bowl
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  5. When the dough has risen, punch it down and turn out onto a lightly floured board. The less flour you use, the better the bread will be.

    Braided bread dough turned out onto a work surface after rising
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  6. If making one large loaf, divide the dough into three equal pieces. If making two loaves, divide the dough into two equal pieces and divide each of the two pieces into three equal pieces, for a total of six pieces.

    Braided bread dough divided into three equal pieces in preparation for braiding
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  7. Roll each piece of dough into a rope about 14 inches long. Use three ropes per bread. If making two loaves, roll the ropes into 10- to 12-inch lengths.

    Braided bread dough divided into three ropes in preparation for being braided
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  8. Combine the tops of the three ropes. Start braiding from the top, as you would for a plait of hair. Tuck the dough under a bit when you get to the bottom.

    Three ropes of dough being braided starting from the top
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  9. Heat the oven to 350 F. Let the bread rise, loosely covered with oiled plastic wrap, until doubled in volume, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Brush lightly with remaining beaten egg. Bake 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 190 to 200 F when placed in the middle of the loaf.

    Braided bread risen and ready to go into the oven
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  10. Remove bread from the oven. When completely cool, slice and serve. If you have leftovers, they're great in bread pudding or sliced for French toast!