Braided Onion and Cheese Bread

I made this for the workers to snack on yesterday.  The smell alone makes this bread worth making.

Ingredients

dough

• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
  
  
• 4 cups flour 
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup milk  
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 additional egg for egg wash 

filling

• 1 cup onion diced fine
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt 
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix yeast and 1/4 cup warm water. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.

2. Set aside until yeast begins to bubble.

3. Add 4 cups flour, melted butter, oil, warm milk, 1/2 cup water, sugar, salt and egg to the bowl.

4. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated.

5. When all ingredients are mixed and the flour is no longer visible, switch to the dough hook and turn on low for 2 minutes.

6. Scrape down sides of bowl and spray sides of bowl lightly with cooking oil.

7. Cover the bowl and place in a warm place for about 1 hour.

8. Prepare the filling by mixing all of the filling ingredients together in a medium size bowl. Set aside.

9. Flour a clean surface and remove the dough from the bowl onto the floured surface.

10. Roll the dough out into approximately a 12×20 inch rectangle. You may need to add flour to the dough if it is too sticky. Just sprinkle on and fold into dough.

11. Spread the filling onto the dough. With a knife, cut the dough lengthwise into three ling strips, approximately 4 inches each. You should have 3 strips of dough 4×20 inches when finished.

12. Take each strip and pinch the dough together so the filling stays inside of the dough strip (see photos on post). At this point, you should have three long ropes of filled dough. Place each of the strips of dough onto a jelly roll pan that has been lightly greased or lined with parchment paper.

13. Start with one end and begin to braid the bread, tuck the ends under.

14. Brush with one beaten egg. If you don't have a pastry brush, use your hands to lightly coat the dough with the egg wash.

15. Let rise in a draft free place for about 45 minutes.

16. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and set the rack in the center of the oven.

17. When braid has risen for 45 minutes, place in oven and let cook for about 35 minutes. The dough should be golden when done.

18. Remove from oven and let cool at least 10 minutes, then slice and serve.

I cut the dough into three pieces before spreading on the filling.

I used a small dough scoop to distribute the filling.

Brush with the egg wash before baking.

 Some of the cheese oozes out and turns into frico which is the best part.