Lafat Khamira - Sweet Bread Rolls

 This sweet bread is very soft and tender with a little sweetness.  It is great served warm with a hot cup of tea.    
 
This recipe makes a lot of sweet bread rolls – about 4 gallon size freezer bags full. 
It freezes really well in ziplock bags.  You can store what you won’ t use in the
freezer and pull out when you have company over.

Ingredients
2 Envelope packages dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water
5.5 pound bag white flour (Five Rose Brand works well)
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons nigella seeds (can omit if you have trouble finding)
1 cup+ 3 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup oil + more for greasing baking tray (I used corn oil)
6 Eggs
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 – 2 cups warm water

• Empty yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar into a large mug and mix.  Add 1 cup warm water and stir.
• Allow the yeast to rise - about 5 – 10 minutes.  The top should be foamy.
• Empty the flour into a large bowl, add powdered sugar, salt, nigella seeds and mix by hand.
• Add the yeast mixture, 1 cup milk,  ¾ cup oil, and 4 eggs.  Mix by hand. 
• Add warm water little at a time until the dough is moistened and is stretchy.  
• Knead for 5 – 10 minutes.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap in the bowl and place a couple blankets over the bowl. Let the dough rise for a minimum of 20 minutes, maximum 2 hours.  .  
• Pull off a large piece of dough to begin working with (about ¼ of the dough). 
• Section off the dough into balls that are about 2 inches in diameter.   Continue to make balls with the rest of the dough.  Cover the balls with plastic wrap and let them rest for 10 minutes. 
• Instructions below are for braiding the dough.  The shape is up to
• you.  You can also roll out dough and use cookie cutters.
• Roll the balls out into 3 long strips that are ½ inch wide or less.  Stick the top of the three strips together at the top and braid. 
• Break off the braid into 4 inch sections. 
  
• Smooth out the top and the bottom of the braid. 
  
• Place in a greased baking tray (they will expand in size when baked).  Continue until the tray is full.
• Make the egg wash by mixing 2 eggs with 3 tablespoons of milk (milk can be replaced with water)
• Brush the egg wash over the braids.
• Put in the oven for 20 – 30 minutes at 375 degrees or until you see the top is starting to get golden brown.