Add water, egg, margarine, flour, sugar, salt and yeast to bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer. Select Sweet Bread cycle. Remove to rack and cool when done.
Braiden Oven Baked (Shown above)Select dough/manual cycle. When cycle is complete, remove dough to a lightly floured surface. If necessary, knead in enough flour to make bread easy to handle.
Divide dough into two pieces, one about 2/3 of the dough, the other about 1/3 of the dough. Divide the larger piece into 3 equal pieces; roll into 14" ropes. Place ropes on greased baking sheet. Braid by bringing left rope under center rope; lay it down. Bring right rope under new center rope; lay it down. Repeat to end. Pinch ends to seal. Divide remaining piece into 3 equal pieces, roll into 12" ropes; braid. Place smaller braid on top of larger braid. Pinch ends firmly to seal and to secure to large braid.
Cover with damp towel; let rise in warm, draft-free place until almost doubled in size, 15-20 minutes. Lightly beat egg yolk and one tablespoon of water; brush over braids. Sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds if desired. After bread has baked at 375 °F oven for 15 minutes, cover loosely with foil to prevent excess browning. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes (sounds hollow when tapped on bottom braid). (Total baking time approximately 25-30 minutes.) Remove from sheet and cool on wire rack.
Select dough/manual cycle. When cycle is complete, remove dough to a lightly floured surface. If necessary, knead in enough flour to make bread easy to handle.
Divide dough into two pieces, one about 2/3 of the dough, the other about 1/3 of the dough. Divide the larger piece into 3 equal pieces; roll into 14" ropes. Place ropes on greased baking sheet. Braid by bringing left rope under center rope; lay it down. Bring right rope under new center rope; lay it down. Repeat to end. Pinch ends to seal. Divide remaining piece into 3 equal pieces, roll into 12" ropes; braid. Place smaller braid on top of larger braid. Pinch ends firmly to seal and to secure to large braid.
Cover with damp towel; let rise in warm, draft-free place until almost doubled in size, 15-20 minutes. Lightly beat egg yolk and one tablespoon of water; brush over braids. Sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds if desired. After bread has baked at 375 °F oven for 15 minutes, cover loosely with foil to prevent excess browning. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes (sounds hollow when tapped on bottom braid). Total baking time approximately 25-30 minutes. Remove from sheet and cool on wire rack.