Breads:

Braided German Bread

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Ingredients

1 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons dry yeast
2/3 cup sugar, divided
3 cups lukewarm water
2/3 cup oil
2 teaspoons salt
7 to 8 cups flour, divided
3/4 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

In a small bowl, add 1 cup lukewarm water. Sprinkle in the yeast. Add 3 tablespoons of the sugar. Let rise 5 minutes. In large mixing bowl, add the 3 cups lukewarm water, oil, remaining sugar, salt and 3 cups of flour. Beat the ingredients with a wire whisk for about 5 minutes until all the lumps are gone. Add 1 cup of flour and the yeast mixture; beat until blended. Stir the baking powder into 1 cup of flour. Then add to flour mixture until blended in. Add the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time until the bread forms a very soft dough. Oil the dough and set aside to rise until double, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Grease three cookie sheets. Divide the dough into three equal parts. Divide each part into three equal portions. Knead and roll the portions into three equally long strands. Lay strands of dough side by side on cookie sheet and braid. Let rise until double, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Bake 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Anne Jackson
Bettendorf