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How to braid an eight strand loaf

Judith Erdin

3.1.2024

Translation: Elicia Payne

Co-author: Simon Balissat

Direction: Valentina Sproge-Werndli

Cutter: Valentina Sproge-Werndli

Camera: Davide Arizzoli, Armin Tobler

Support: Eva Lipecki, Mia Kuchen

Have you always wanted to braid an eight-strand plait yourself? But you’ve no idea how to? Then give our video a watch! For English subtitles, click the gear icon, «Subtitles/CC» and «Auto-translate».

Braiding pupil Simon Balissat and I take on a new challenge and bake the perfect Sunday loaf. The big challenge for him: we’re not weaving with two strands, but with eight. The big challenge for me: making sure that Simon puts a plait and not a ball of dough in the oven (and doesn’t completely lose his composure in the process). But what exactly does it take? You can find more of my tips here.

The right recipe

To pull out a perfect plait from the oven that would even make Aphrodite proud, you first need a good recipe. I’m not ashamed to recommend my own, because I’ve perfected it over several years. Everyone who has tried it so far has loved it. So if you can’t resist the pure ecstasy of Sunday brunch, please click here for the recipe. If you prefer it in printed form, you can find it in my book «Dein bestes Brot» (English: your best bread).

Dein bestes Brot (German, Judith Erdin, 2021)

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Dein bestes Brot

German, Judith Erdin, 2021

Also important: your talent for improvisation may be quite useful when cooking, but it has little to virtually no place in baking. If you want your braided loaf to taste the same every Sunday, you should follow the instructions exactly.

The correct technique

Explaining a braiding technique with words isn’t easy. So I really recommend watching our video above or following the braiding instructions in the pictures. But I’ll give you one tip: switch your mind off while braiding. The key to success here is realising that there are usually only two or three steps that are being repeated – no matter how many strands you braid. Once you’ve understood these steps, the braid will be ready in no time at all.

Braiding instructions

All illustrations: Judith Erdin

Practice makes perfect

Here I’d like to quote from the legendary Swiss German radio play «S'Rössli Hü» (English: the little horse Hü), because I can’t put it any better myself: «Practice, practice, practice, said Marco Gonzales.»

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Judith Erdin

Bloggerin und Backbuch-Autorin von Streusel.ch

simon.balissat@digitecgalaxus.ch

Baking book author, food blogger and content creator by day. Other people's cat lover, peanut butter junkie and houseplant hospice nurse by night.

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