Lifestyle

The Best Braided Bread Recipes

Braided bread are the perfect golden showstoppers at any window display of a bakery. The twisted, plump, thick bread with the right crisp and tenderness is the epitome of bread-making. Ever fantasize about making them yourself? 

Well, they are easier to make than you think! Braided bread is perfect for any occasion when you want to blow away your guests, and make an excellent first impression. You might find it easier to work with if you get the hang of it. We have collected some fantastic braided bread recipes. And they are as delicious as they look.

The Braided White Bread

The recipe is perfect for a beginner. You can make two pretty loaves from it. It is great if you have just begun to work with yeast breads. You can pair it with any soup you like, or with some pasta. If you’re cooking to impress, this simple yet elegant braided bread recipe is the way to go.

Steps To Make Braided White Bread

1. In a large bowl, mix together room temperature 1 ½ cup water and one tbsp yeast. 
2. Add ¼ cup soft butter, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt.
3. Then add 3 cups of bread flour and mix it. 
4. Add one more cup of flour and make the dough.
5. Turn the dough into a lightly dusted surface and knead it for around 10 minutes.
6. Place the dough into a bowl. Lightly grease it and cover with a plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm area for about 1 hour.
7. Punch down the airy dough and knead. 
8. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Take 3 pieces and roll them into long strips of about 12 inches long.
9. Line the side of the strip by side and braid them. Pinch the ends together.
10. Set the braided loaf on a greased baking sheet. Cover it with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 30 minutes.
11. Bake the bread at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes until the bread top is golden brown. 
12. Remove the loaf and cool it. Voila!

Some Other Types Of Popular Braided Bread 

1. Traditional Braided Sabbath Bread

It is a traditional Jewish bread called a ‘challah.’ The recipe is great for any day of the week, for an intimate family dinner. You can also make it to go for a romantic picnic outdoors. So, it is ideal for any situation. 

The recipe makes two gorgeous braided white bread loaves that contain egg whites. The toasted poppy seeds make the perfect savory and beautiful bread.

2. The Czech Hoska

It is a rich and flavourful bread made traditionally by the Bohemians and the Czechs. It is similar to challah, but it is made with eggs and butter. You can bake it with or without resins. Another plus point of this braided bread is that if you have some leftovers, you can whip up some bread pudding or some delightful French toast.

3. Braided Farmer’s Cheese Bread

Love the combination of simple cheese and bread? So do we and so does this recipe. The recipe has decadent farmer’s cheese fillings with the perfect chewy bread. It is the go to comfort food for date nights, family parties, and picnics. 

The versatile braided bread can go with any dish ranging from pasta, soup, chicken recipes and a lot more. You can also gift it to a foodie brother or sister! 

4. Sweet Yeasted Bread

Are you craving some sweet savory bread on the side of some sweet corn soup, or some hot chili Manchurian? The sweet yeasted bread is perfect with a variety of dishes. Share it with a loved one over a pot of hot coffee and you’ve got the perfect breakfast.

5. Sesame Whole Wheat Braided Bread

With the perfect looks and a healthy ingredient list, you can make it for your family within the hour. Use whole wheat bread instead of all purpose flour to make it more nutritious. For the finishing touch, sprinkle some sesame seeds on top to make it pop. 

It is a simple recipe which you can enjoy as it is, or with some cream cheese or butter, whatever you choose, your family will be thrilled.

6. Herb And Romano Cheese Wreath

Is it time for the festivities? Do you need to make something magnificent to impress your family? Then look no further. With the braided cheese wreath, you not only have a grand bread, but you also have the most delightfully subtle flavours of the herbs and cheese. 

You can easily bake it and cool it completely if you want to use it later. Make it ahead a day or two. You can wrap it in foil and place it in an airtight zip-lock plastic bag. When you are ready, warm it up with some butter brush and place a bowl of freshly whipped cream to go with it. You have the party ready.

7. Celebration Braided Bread

Want a bit more oomph in your braided bread recipe? Then don’t just stick to the regular braided version, make a double braided bread monster for the celebrations! You can gift these golden loaves to your family as a gift, and they are sure to love them.

The recipe is somewhat similar to the traditional Jewish recipe, Challah. Keeping the recipe somewhat similar, buckle up the braiding style to make them extra special.

8. The Braided Egg Bread

The delicate bread will be trending every time you serve it. The amplified version of the simple bread recipe makes it tender, with deep seated richness. The best part- you can make it from scratch with a few ingredients within a few steps. Make this straightforward braided bread and become the rock star of the kitchen. 

9. Cardamom Twist

How can we mention some of the most famous bread recipes without mentioning one that is full of cardamom punch? Everyone loves cardamom flavor. Bake this golden bread. It has a soft centre and a crunchy texture outside. 

Get the perfect flavor of cardamom with each bite. These slices shine especially when paired with cream cheese, maple syrup, or some honey butter.

Some Out Of The Box Ideas For Your Next Braided Adventure

1. Mashed Potatoes

Ever wonder what mashed potatoes can make your braided loaves even more delicious? Mashed potatoes contain a huge amount of starch that makes them absorb more moisture while kneading. Hence, braided bread containing mashed potatoes are extremely moist, but crispy on the outside.

2. Line Between Bread And Desert

Are you looking for a unique braided bread recipe that you can eat as bread, or even pass it as a desert? Satisfy your palette with some almond braided bread. You can use almond flour and toasted almond chunks to make it like a puffed pastry. It is easy, yet fulfilling.

Serve it some tea or coffee, or go for it during breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has a light, flaky exterior and a rich almond centre. Make it when you have too many almonds to spare.

3. The Solution To The Thanksgiving And Hanukkah Clash

Are you worried of hurting the sentiments of your extended family? Then mix two traditional recipes to make an excellent fusion- the pumpkin egg braided bread. 

Use some pumpkin puree for the recipe and some pumpkin spices. Try it with some handmade flavoured butter, and use the leftovers for French sandwiches. 

4. Seeded Braids

Can’t get your kids to eat healthy? Toast a variety of nuts and seeds and use it as topping for your next braided bread. You can try a variety of seeds such as crunchy green pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, etc. They add a great flavor and visual appeal.

5. Glaze

Make your braids shine with some easy glaze. Combine confectioners’ sugar, orange juice and zest together. Make a paste and drizzle over the bread and this makes a tropical orange glaze. Similarly, you can add other fruits to make flavoured glaze. 

Grapefruit Soda – All You Need to Know

Grapefruit is a subtropical fruit growing in evergreen grapefruit trees. It originated from an accidental crossing between sweet orange and pomelo, two other citrus fruits, and hence belongs to the citrus family. Grapefruit soda is one of the popular uses of grapefruit other than making juice or cocktails out of it. Grapefruit sodas are available in shops but can be made at home also with minimum effort and ingredients. 

Grapefruit’s taste ranges from bittersweet to sweet and sometimes sour, depending on the redness of the fruit. Also, the interior of the fruit is segmented and its color can be white, yellow, pink, or red.

Health Benefits of Having Grapefruit

Grapefruit is 92% water of its total weight, making it one of the highest water content fruit. It keeps you stay hydrated and adding one grapefruit to your daily diet will help in improving overall health.

For Weight Loss

Someone interested in losing weight can consider grapefruit due to its very low-calorie content. 100 grams of grapefruit has an average of 42 calories.

Antioxidant Rich

In between the outer layer and the flesh of the grapefruit, there is a white layer known as pith. This pith is often discarded because of its bitter taste but it has high fibre contains and is rich in antioxidants and nutrients.

Lowers Bad Cholesterol

Consuming one grapefruit a day, particularly the red or pink variety can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) by 15.5%.

Pumps Immune System

It also helps in pumping the immune system as it provides vitamin C and vitamin A.

Reduces Hypertension

Grapefruits help in reducing fats, triglycerides to be specific by 27% which is a huge number. It also has high potassium levels which help to reduce hypertension and high blood pressure.

Low Glycemic Index

Another good thing about grapefruit is its low glycemic index (GI), approximately 25 and hence consuming it does not increase blood sugar rapidly. This value is even less than fruits like banana or watermelon.

Vitamin Rich

A 28% of vitamin A available in one-half of grapefruit is good for the eyes, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. The vitamin C present not only helps to boost immunity but also speeds up the recovery of any injury or wound. It also helps in the formation of new tissues and blood vessels.

It is better to have the fruit as a whole rather than juice if you want to get some fibre for your body. It also has some small amounts of calcium and iron.

Choose the Right Grapefruit

The nutrients mentioned above are more or less present in all the varieties of grapefruit. But, the redness of the fruit determines its quality. This means that the redder or pink ones have higher nutritional values than the white ones.

The red fruits get their colour from lycopene, a carotenoid, or pigment. Research says that eating food with good levels of carotenoid lowers the risk of heart diseases and even cancer. They also have high antioxidants especially beta carotene.

So, it is always better to choose the red and pink grapefruits which are filled with more vitamins and nutrients rather than the white ones.

How to Make Grapefruit Soda 

Grapefruit soda is a simple and easy-to-make beverage that can be made at home with some regular ingredients. The steps are simple and even beginners can give a shot at making this refreshing drink. Also, it is always better to make things at home rather than buying them as the quality and freshness are maintained.

Ingredients Required

To make grapefruit soda you will need:

• Large Pink Grapefruit- 2 pieces
• Sugar- 9 tablespoons
• Water- 1 cup
• Lemons- 2 pieces
• Seltzer or Carbonated Water

Time Required

Preparation time: 10 – 15 minutes

Waiting Time: 1 hour

Yield

Serves 12 

Procedure to make grapefruit soda

1. Take out the zest from one fresh grapefruit and make juice from the other one.
2. Add the grapefruit juice, the zest, lemon juice, water, and sugar to a saucepan and boil until the sugar dissolves completely. 
3. Turn off the oven and let it cool down and settle for an hour. 
4. After that, strain the syrup in a container using a mesh sieve and remove the solid particles.
5. To serve grapefruit soda, add the syrup to a glass, add seltzer water, ice and stir. 

Nutritional Facts:

• Calories: 45
• Carbohydrate: 10g
• Fat: 0g
• Sugar: 10g
• Calcium: 4mg
• Added Sugars: 9g

 *All the values are approximate.

Note:

• You can use honey as an alternative to sugar to make a healthy version of the drink.
• Also, you can use ginger in the syrup to give a bit of a spicy taste to the sweet syrup.
• The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Add the syrup to your taste. The sweeter you want your drink to be, the more you need the syrup.
• Grapefruit soda tastes best when served cold.
• Another option could be using agave syrup if you don’t want to invest time in making the grapefruit syrup. But agave has got a typical taste to it which many don’t like. So, remember to taste a little amount of it before adding it to your entire drink.

Uses of Grapefruit Soda

Grapefruit soda on its own tastes delicious but if you want to add some liquor to your drink then there are some yummy cocktail recipes to look for:

1. The Paloma:  Tequila mixed with grapefruit soda.
2. Flamingo: Made with white rum, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit soda.
3. Hemingway Daiquiri: Maraschino liqueur with grapefruit soda or juice.
4. Danny Ocean: Mashup of the Paloma and Hemingway daiquiri and made with reposado tequila.

Other Uses of Grapefruit

Not only to make a refreshing drink, but you can also explore and use many other ways to consume grapefruit. Grapefruit in a salad is one such option. Try having grapefruit, kale, and hazelnut salad or grapefruit and avocado salad with baked salmon. 

Grapefruit can be consumed on its own as a go-to immediate food when you are in a hurry but if you have time you can make delicious dishes with fish or chicken. 

Almond, walnuts, and other dry fruits go well with grapefruit. Smoothies are another tasty option to consider by adding some other fruit like pomegranate to it.

With all these qualities present in a single fruit, grapefruit has made its place in the list of superfoods. The unique taste and the health benefits make it a healthy choice for you to make a refreshing drink like grapefruit soda or a healthy dish like salad or smoothie.