Description
A delightful Polish Braided Bread (chałka) with a golden crust and soft, fluffy interior, perfect for cozy mornings and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
- Add eggs and melted butter to the yeast mixture, then pour this into the flour mixture.
- Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 3 equal parts. Roll each portion into a long rope and braid them together.
- Place the braid on a baking sheet, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush the dough with beaten egg and sprinkle with seeds if desired.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- Let cool before slicing.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, substitute milk with almond milk. You can also use honey instead of sugar for a natural sweetness.
- Prep Time: 120 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg