I made this bread as part of an experiment to try out new recipes. The experiment kind of ended there, after I made this Guyanese Plait Bread, I didn’t really want to try any other recipe! It is soft, it is sweet, with a chewy crust and a melty inside. What can be better than that?
Making your plait bread
Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit (190 Celcius).
In a large bowl, place the water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface and allow it to rest for 10 minutes or until the surface starts to foam.
Add the flour, melted butter or oil and salt into the yeast mixture. Mix until you form a sticky dough. Add just enough flour that the dough is no longer sticky (about 1 or two tablespoons) and knead for 5 to 10 minutes on a floured surface. If the dough springs back when indented lightly with your finger, the dough is ready for the next step
Oil the bowl lightly and place the dough back into the bowl. Flip the dough over so that the whole surface is oiled. This will help to prevent the dough from drying out. Cover the bowl with a clean wet tea towel or cling wrap. Allow it to rise for 45 minutes.
Remove the dough and place it on the floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes or until it forms a smooth ball. Roll the ball into a log and cut it into 3 even pieces. Then roll each of the three pieces in logs about 14 inches (35 cm) long.
Forming the loaf
Place the three pieces next to each other and press their ends firmly together. Now braid to form a loaf. Press the end pieces together and tuck both sides in to make sure the braid is secure.
Allow to rise for another 45 minutes. While you wait, whisk together the egg yolk and a teaspoon of water. When done rising, brush the egg mixture on the top of the bread. This will create a crispy golden crust.
In an oven-proof dish, place the ice cubes and put them in the preheated oven together with the bread and bake for 30 minutes. The ice cubes will make your crust even better. To test if your bread is ready, turn the loaf over and tap the bottom with your knuckle. It should sound hollow.
- Remove your freshly baked loaf and allow it to cool on a wire rack. Enjoy immediately with a dollop of butter or place in a plastic bag and seal. You can also wrap your loaf in a clean tea towel and place it in the fridge.
Print the Guyanese Plait Bread recipe:
Soft and Sweet Guyanese Plait Bread
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups white bread flour
- 1 tbsp dry yeast
- 1 1/3 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup melted butter or olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/5 cup sugar or 1/4 cup for slighly sweeter loaf
- 1 egg yolk optional
- a few icecubes optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit (190 Celcius).
- In a large bowl, place the water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface and allow to rest for 10 minutes or until the surface starts to foam.
- Add the flour, melted butter or oil and salt into the yeast mixture. Mix until you form a sticky dough. Add just enough flour that the dough is no longer sticky (about 1 or two tablespoons) and knead for 5 to 10 minutes on a floured surfaces. If the dough springs back when indented lightly with your finger, the dough is ready for the next step
- Oil the bowl lightly and place the dough back into the bowl. Flip the dough over so that the whole surface is oiled. This will help to prevent the dough from drying out. Cover the bowl with a clean wet tea towel or clingwrap. Allow to rise for 45 minutes.
- Remove the dough and place it on the floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes or until it forms a smooth ball. Roll the ball into a log and cut into 3 even pieces. Then roll each of the three pieces in logs about 14 inches(35 cm) long.
- Place the three pieces next to each other and pressing their ends firmly together. Now braid to form a loaf. Press the end pieces together and tuck both sides in to make sure the braid is secure.
- Allow to rise for another 45 minutes. While you wait, whisk together the egg yolk and a teaspoon of water. When done rising, brush the egg mixture on the top of the bread. This will create a crispy golden crust.
- In an oven proof dish, place the ice cubes and put in the preheated oven together with the bread and bake for 30 minutes. The ice cubes will make your crust even better. To test if your bread is ready, turn the loaf over and tap the bottom with your knuckle. It should sound hollow.
- Remove your freshly baked loaf and allow to cool on a wire rack. Enjoy immediately with a dollop of butter or place in a plastic bag and seal. You can also wrap your loaf in a clean tea towel and place it in the fridge.
How did your bread turn out? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to check out our other posts for more delicious recipes
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Thanks for stopping by,
Wilke
My husband is Guyanese and loves the bread. This was my first attempt making it and I’m so proud of myself. I added a tad more sugar and also used the ice cubes 👌🏽
Hi Danielle! So glad you tried this recipe 🙂 sure your husband loved it!
Greetings,
Wilke
First of all I want to say awesome blog! I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your head before writing. I’ve had a hard time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out there. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints? Cheers!
Normally I just start to write anywhere I feel like. If I started with the middle, I go back afterwards and write the beginning and end. It helps to just start writing and not stop wondering how to be perfect. Good luck!
WILKE
I love braided bread and the fact that this is sweet makes it even more of a temptation for me! Gorgeous bread!
Thank you! It is the best bread ever, although it should probably be categorized as a dessert instead!
Beautiful & yet simplistic! Love the step by step photos provided!
Thank you for your kind words xx