Sweet Polish Braided Bread

Begin by combining yeast with 1 cup of lukewarm water in a bowl. Allow the mixture to sit for approximately 5 minutes, or until the yeast has softened and formed a creamy foam. Set it aside for now.

In a separate saucepan, heat milk over medium-high heat until it reaches boiling point. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 cup of lukewarm water, butter, and a total of 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of salt. Continue stirring until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Once the milk mixture has cooled to a lukewarm temperature, stir in the dissolved yeast. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs until they are fully incorporated. Gradually pour the milk mixture into the eggs and mix in flour until a dough forms.

Transfer the dough to a floured surface and divide it into two equal pieces using a serrated knife. Shape each piece into a ball and place them in two large greased bowls. Cover the bowls with greased plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 1 ½ hours.

Prepare three baking sheets or lines with parchment paper by lightly greasing them. Take the dough balls out of the bowls and place them on a well-floured surface. Divide each dough ball into three equal pieces, resulting in six pieces total. Shape each piece into a ball and keep them covered with greased plastic wrap.

Working with one portion at a time, divide the dough ball into three equal pieces and form each piece into three ropes. Braid the ropes together and place them onto a prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process with the remaining five dough balls, aiming to fit two braided loaves per baking sheet. Cover the loaves loosely with plastic wrap and allow them to rise for about an hour.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place the braided loaves onto a preheated baking sheet and bake in the oven until they are hollow-sounding when tapped on top, taking about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the loaves from the oven and let them cool before slicing.