Braided Poppy Seed Loaf - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 None egg + 2 yolks
1/2 cup butter, softened
6 3/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 2/3 cups milk + 2 tbsp
1 cup pistachios, finely ground
3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
1/3 cup poppy seeds, ground
1/3 cup apricot jam

Preparation

Combine flour, 1 pinch of salt, vanilla extract and sugar. Add whole egg, 1 egg yolk and butter. Dissolve yeast into 1 2/3 cups milk then add to flour mixture. Knead until smooth then cover and let rest in a warm place for 45 mins.
Preheat oven to 400\u00b0F. Knead dough again then divide into 3 portions. Mix 1/2 pistachios into 1/3, 1/2 poppy seeds into 1/3 and 1/2 cranberries into last 1/3. Divide each portion into 3 again then form each piece into an 18-20 inch long strand. Braid 1 of each strand together to form 3 total braids. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover and let proof in a warm place for 20-30 mins.
Beat remaining egg yolk and milk then brush onto braids. Place on 2nd to bottom rack in oven and bake for 30 mins. Heat jam then spread over baked braids. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for 2-3 hours. Decorate with remaining pistachios, poppy seeds and cranberries. Best served slightly warm with butter and jam.