Portuguese Sweet Bread

I love fresh, slightly sweet bread, so this Portuguese Sweet Bread seemed like the perfect recipe to try. My bread didn't come out as pretty or fluffy but it was still a tasty sweet bread that hit the spot. It's a good, easy bread to have in your recipe collection.

Portuguese Sweet Bread:

• (I halved the original recipe, so double this for 2 loaves)
• 1 package yeast
• 1/2 cup + 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup warm milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cup flour

Combine yeast, 1/2 tsp sugar, and water. Let proof. Now, if you don't know what that means (like I didn't) basically, your yeast is going to activate and get all poofy.
In a small bowl, mix butter, milk, and sugar. Add to yeast mixture and stir.
Okay. It's going to get a little weird here where I halved the recipe. In a small container, slightly beat the 2 eggs. Add 3/4 of the beaten-eggness to the mixture, reserving the final 1/4 for an egg wash. Add salt and mix well.
Add flour 1/2 cup at a time. Turn onto a well-floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and place in well buttered bowl. Cover and set in a warm place until doubled. This took quite awhile for me.. More than the usual time.
Once your dough has risen sufficiently, punch it down. Shape into a ball and place on a buttered sheet, or shape it into a roll and place in a buttered loaf pan. Cover and let rise until doubled again. Brush top with the remaining egg and bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped.