Braided Easter Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

500 g plain flour
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 tbsp caster sugar
2 medium eggs
75 g butter, softened
250 ml semi-skimmed milk + 2 tbsp
42 g fresh yeast

Preparation

Mix flour, vanilla extract, 1 1/2 tbsp sugar, 1 egg, butter and a pinch of salt. Heat 1 cup milk until lukewarm, add yeast and stir until dissolved. Add to flour mixture and knead until smooth. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 40 mins.
When doubled in size, turn out onto a floured surface and knead again. Cut into 3 pieces and stretch each to about 17 inches long. Braid the 3 pieces together and place on a lined baking tray, cover and leave in a warm place for 30 mins.
Heat oven to 400\u00b0F. Beat egg yolk with 2 tbsp milk and brush dough. Sprinkle with remaining sugar and bake for about 30-35 mins. Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack.