4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 package regular yeast
1 cup warm water
4 T melted butter
2 large eggs
1 tsp salt
for the wash
1 beaten egg yolk
1 TBSP milk
mix yeast and milk and let stand for several minutes until bubbly
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt. Add in milk/yeast, butter, and eggs. (I like to beat the eggs with my hand beater and add the other things for a final whip before combining with the dry ingredients.) Knead for 4-5 minutes in a stand mixer of at least 15 minutes by hand. This is a wet dough. I like to dust the dough ball with flour before covering the mixing bowl with a towel for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Punch down the dough and divide it into 3 equal pieces. Roll each section into a rope 16" to 18" long. Braid these together and pinch the ends together before tucking them under.
Place braided dough on a baking sheet with parchment. Cover with the towel for another 30 - 60 minutes until it is puffy.
Preheat the oven to 350 about halfway through that second rise. Brush with egg wash before baking..
Bake 30-35 minutes. If bread is getting darker than you like tent it with foil after 20 minutes in the oven. Cool on cooling rack.
Note: I like to egg wash a second time halfway through baking to keep the color more consistent.