
A historical bread from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Dip a brush in milk and pass it over the top of the loaf; after ten minutes or so, set it in a quick oven and bake for nearly an hour.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Let the bread be made as directed for wheat bread, then take three pieces as large as a pint bowl each
Strew a little flour over the paste-board or table
Roll each piece under your hands to twelve inches length, making it smaller in circumference at the ends than in the middle
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Having rolled the three in this way, take a baking-tin, lay one part on it, join one end of each of the other two to it, and braid them together the length of the rolls and join the ends by pressing them together
Dip a brush in milk and pass it over the top of the loaf
After ten minutes or so, set it in a quick oven and bake for nearly an hour
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Braiding dough creates multiple surfaces that brown differently, developing complex flavor through varied Maillard reactions. The milk wash contains lactose and proteins that caramelize at lower temperatures than plain dough, producing a golden, glossy crust. Rolling the dough into tapered strands redistributes tension evenly, preventing the braid from pulling apart during oven spring when trapped CO2 expands.
The wheat bread dough can be prepared through the first rise, then refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Bring to room temperature (about 1 hour) before shaping. The shaped, unbaked loaf can be covered and refrigerated overnight for a slow second rise; brush with milk and bake directly from the refrigerator, adding 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
Store the cooled bread in a paper bag or bread box at room temperature for up to 3 days—avoid plastic, which softens the crust. For longer storage, slice and freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Thaw slices at room temperature or toast directly from frozen. Refresh day-old bread by misting with water and heating in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The wheat bread dough can be prepared through the first rise, then refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Bring to room temperature (about 1 hour) before shaping. The shaped, unbaked loaf can be covered and refrigerated overnight for a slow second rise; brush with milk and bake directly from the refrigerator, adding 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
Store the cooled bread in a paper bag or bread box at room temperature for up to 3 days—avoid plastic, which softens the crust. For longer storage, slice and freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Thaw slices at room temperature or toast directly from frozen. Refresh day-old bread by misting with water and heating in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.