Coffee Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry yeast
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup warm milk
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 4 1/2 cups flour

Recipe

• 1 add yeast to lukewarm water and let stand 5 minutes. add eggs, sugar, and salt; mix well. mix the melted butter and warm milk together, add this and the flour alternately to the egg mixture. mix with a spoon until quite stiff. then knead with hands until dough is smooth and springy. place into a fairly large bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk. shape into 2 large braids or 1 1/2 dozen buns. (buns are made by rolling a ball of dough out about 4-5" in length and forming into a knot.) cover and let rise 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk. punch down; let rise again. bake braids at 350* for approximately 20 minutes. bake buns at 400* for 10-15 minutes. immediately after removing from oven, brush top with slightly beaten egg whites and sprinkle with granulated sugar. finely chopped nuts or candied fruits can also be added.