My last post about bread braiding for a while…promise!
A few people asked about the Winston knot design that I made in the previous post, so I tried the pattern again, taking photos this time. The original instructions for this shape are in Jeffrey Hamelman’s Bread.
Each of the loaves was made with a full batch of the braided bread dough recipe – approximately 850g each. The dough was divided into six balls of approximately 140g each, and then rolled into long logs.
Note that the logs need to be looong, or you’ll run out of dough before the end. Mine were about 60cm/24 inches each. After rolling, very lightly dust the logs in a little flour to help improve definition in the finished loaf.
Step 1: Lay the dough out as shown below. From now on, each group of three adjacent logs will be treated as a single unit. Note that when each group is woven, the rolls should not be turned over but simply rotated, so that the part that is face up continues to be face up for the whole process. Please also note that I stuffed this up in step 2 (but it wasn’t too bad, as that bit ended up at the bottom of the loaf).
Step 2: Rotate group 1 down to lie adjacent to group 4.
Step 3: Rotate, without turning over, group 2 under group 4 and over group 1. It should end up next to group 3.
Step 4: Rotate group 3 over group 2 and lie it next to group 1.
Step 5: Weave group 4 under group 1 and over group 3. Nearly there!
Step 6: Bring what you have left of group 2 over group 4, then squelch all the bits together at the bottom. Don’t worry too much about neatness, as this ends up on the underside of the loaf.
Step 7: Fold the bottom of the dough (the bit you’ve just squelched together) upwards to the middle of the dough.
Step 8: Now repeat with the top of the dough. Squish the two bits you’ve folded in together, but be careful not to squash the dough down, or you’ll flatten out the design.
Step 9: Now turn the loaf over and admire your handiwork! Place the dough on a parchment lined tray, then cover it with oiled clingfilm and leave it in a warm place to rise. Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) with fan.
Step 10: To finish, brush the risen dough with a little melted butter, and bake for about 30 – 35 minutes, or until dark brown and hollow sounding. Reduce the heat near the end if it starts to brown too much for your liking. Remove from the oven and immediately brush the hot bread with extra melted butter, before allowing to cool on a wire rack. Enjoy!
Very nice job. Very helpful, thanks!
I know I will never even attempt this but it looks so beautiful!
Gorgeous!
You make it look quite easy Celia….., but I know its a tricky one all the same. It looks fabulous.
I think JH would be very, very proud of you :) I can’t make long rolls so I am going to pass on this one for now.
Hello Celia!! What a great step by step tutorial!!
You are ceratinly the best one in explaining techniques so very well!
Too much for me..!!Well done..you’re a star baker..Yvette x
Steve, thank you! :)
Anna, it’s easier than it looks, provided you have the right dough and can make the rolls long enough!
Sasha, Anna, Yvette, thank you! :)
Jo, I hope he forgives me the stuff up on the first turn. I have to admit, long rolls were tricky, and they were still almost not long enough. I found best thing was to shape them, leave them to rest for a few minutes, and then to go back and roll them a bit more.
Sophie, thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed it! :)
Eeek! That looks so tricky. Monkey Boy just saw it and is determined that it’s sausage bread. I’m yet to try making challah (I’m not even sure I’ve eaten it?)
Excellent tutorial Celia…(and yes, starfish still sitting in back of my mind :-)
Brydie, you could so do this! It’s like a simple plait, but using groups of three at a time…
Impressive looking loaf and nice instructions – thanks.
Wow, wonderfully detailed photos Celia, thanks. You certainly have a knack for twisting and turning dough and the numbers in the pics will be most helpful! :)
Wow!! That is a really detailed tutorial, thank you! I find it especially helpful because I am spatially challenged :D And your bread braiding adventures are really cool and appreciated, just so you know!
we are not worthy :)
Question:
When is bread not bread?
Answer:
When it is art!
How nice of you to take the time to put this together for everybody – thank you!
This is so beautiful. I would like to try it. I have a very full weekend, but I’m going to try it next week. I’ll post about it if it turns out anything like yours. Otherwise, I’ll send you a picture on email. I DO have a reputation to keep up. ;)
The challah dough and bread is up on Mellow Bakers for next month – so maybe one more braid post from you in October? That would be lovely and anyone else who wants to join in of course, please do !! :)
Where do you go on the family fitness challenge? Do you have a local park or do you go to the beach? I’m cheering you on !
I was very confused there for a minute – I thought you were talking Windsor knots for gentlemen’s ties. My mistake.
Great tutorial Celia! :D I’ve made challah the same way but I got too flustered to take a step by step like you’ve thoughtfully done! :)
You make it look so easy!
SG, thanks! :)
Chris, I hope you try it – I think it would well with that great challah dough you’ve been braiding!
Honey, that is so nice of you to say that, thank you! I’m a bit worried about dragging you all along when I have my little hypomanic episodes..hahaha
Moo, bless you, dearheart. :)
Mandy, thank you! :)
Heidi, you are the bread shaping queen! If anyone can make long rolls behave, it will be you! Just make sure they’re really long! :)
Jo, I saw that!! It will be fun! Aaah, the family fitness challenge – we’ve all made it through the first week. We have a treadmill at home, so we’ve been taking turns on that, plus walking to and from the shops etc. I’ve walked 20.5km this week. :)
JCN, yes it is confusing. I’m better at Winston knots than Windsor knots! :)
Lorraine, my Lumix is now covered in flour. :) But I discovered recently that you can use Microsoft Paint to add text boxes (and therefore numbers) to your photos, which made the step by step stuff much easier!
Lee, thank you! It IS easy…providing I have Pete standing next to me with the book, calling out instructions.. :)
I am seriously impressed! So very, very beautiful.
VERY impressive work!
Chef, Barb, thank you! :)
Ohhh wow it looks so gorgeous…. I wish I could make this. I love step-by-step tutorial.
Goodness Celia, you are wonderful. What amazing instructions and I’m very impressed with the numbers too. The bread certainly looks impressive.
Thanks Choc! I’ve discovered Microsoft Paint, which lets me draw all over my photos! :)
[…] Knot braided bread! I got the recipe and instructions here on Celia’s blog. It was relatively easy and absolutely delicious! Light and buttery – Frank […]
I love you :) I’ve just been down in the kitchen with my challah dough with your pdf beside me. Couldn’t have done it without you…
Oh I’m so pleased! You’ve made it all worthwhile, Jo! :) xxx
[…] has created a beautiful tutorial showing how to braid a Winston Knot. How could I fail with that guide? I printed it off and kept it close by while I made the first […]
I cannot WAIT to try this braid. Lovely. Just lovely.
Frieda, thanks for stopping by! I made bread hearts a little while ago – thank you for the brilliant instructions! :)
[…] This is first of my weekly bread challenge. I was extremely impressed by the look & smell of this bread. At first I couldn’t find the instruction on how to braid the bread. As I was about to give, I find this extremely useful blog post explain this with detail pictures step-by-step guide. […]
[…] I’d better include a link to Celia’s Winston Knot Tutorial here in case anyone is wondering what is going on in that braid. If I could manage it, you can. […]
Celia!!! The last time I tried a Winston Knot (inspired by one of your gorgeous pictures), it was a failure. :( Tonight, I used your weights and length as a guide and…it worked! You are so awesome…thanks for such detailed instructions. :)
Abby, that’s fantastic news, thanks for letting me know! So glad it worked out well for you – I so love experimenting with bread shapes! :)
Gorgeous!! I have to try this. Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial.