Bread Machine Italian Bread dough - Braided, then Oven Baked

The aroma of fresh baked bread brings back memories of my Nonna's kitchen.
This is one of the recipes I love to make! It's my "never fail" recipe. 
So easy, so delicious!

You make the dough in your bread machine, braid, then bake it in the oven.
 Photos at the bottom of this post.
Mangia!

Italian Braided Bread with Sesame Seeds

Liquid Ingredients:

Pour into bread machine.

1 1/3 cup warm water (100 degrees F)

1 1/2 tsp. olive oil

Stir the below into a bowl to mix, then add to the bread machine.

Dry Ingredients

4 cups AP Flour or Bread flour (or any combination of both)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp Bread Machine Yeast

2 Tbsp light brown sugar 

Egg wash & sesame seeds - for later.

Choose "Dough" cycle 

After it beeps, usually one hour thirty minutes, turn out onto counter or large cutting board. 

Separate into three pieces, about 9.5 oz. each.

Roll each piece into a 12 - 14 inch log.

Place onto a half sheet pan lined with a silpat mat or parchment paper. 

Braid, cover, let rest 35 - 40 minutes.

Brush top with egg wash, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees (check at 25 min. if your oven backs hot.)

Gadgets used:

Bread machine 

Bench scraper

Kitchen scale
Silpat/silicone mat

Half sheet pan