Braided Christmas Bread (Hefekranz) Recipe | King Arthur Baking

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups (340g) lukewarm water
• 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast or instant yeast
• 1/2 cup (56g) King Arthur Baker's Special Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk
• 5 to 6 cups (600g to 720g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons (12g) table salt
• 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1/2 to 1 cup (85g to 170g) golden raisins, optional
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon (14g) water, to glaze
• sliced almonds, for garnish