Chai Tea Bread

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 10
Yield: 10 servings

Description

Fans of chai tea will love the spiced flavor it adds to this 3-strand braided loaf started in the bread machine.

Ingredients

1 cup 2% milk
3 chai tea bags (such as Oregon Chai®), divided
3 cups bread flour
1 egg, separated
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon white decorator sugar, or to taste

Directions

1 Heat milk in the microwave for 1 minute. Steep 1 tea bag in the warm milk for 7 to 10 minutes. Whisk contents of the remaining tea bags into flour.
2 Pour milk into a bread machine, discarding tea bag. Add egg yolk, butter, flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, in that order. Run Dough cycle.
3 Remove dough from the machine after the cycle is done, about 90 minutes. Place on a floured surface and punch down gently. Divide dough into 3 equal parts and braid together. Tuck ends under.
4 Place the braided loaf on a greased baking pan and cover loosely with a towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
5 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
6 Whisk egg white with water to make egg wash. Brush egg wash over the loaf. Sprinkle decorator sugar on top.
7 Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.