This are the ingredient you would need. Note: if you plan on adding raisins, soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes. Add raisins in the end to the kneaded dough.
Combine warm milk together with yeast and two cups of flour. Combine by whisking all ingredients together. Cover the bowl with a towel and set it aside in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
While the dough is rising, separate egg yolks form egg whites. Whisk egg yolks together with 1 cup of sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk whites until they turn into a foamy mixture.
Mix in egg yolks to the dough, followed by butter, vanilla extract and egg whites.
If you are using your mixer, mix in the rest of the flour in small portions. Knead the dough until it becomes elastic. In the picture, you can see how smooth the dough will turn out. Cover the dough with a towel and set it aside to rise for about an hour.
Get a piece of dough, separate it into three equal pieces. On a very lightly floured surface, roll out each piece into a rope.
Join the ends of the ropes together and braid them.
Place each braid on a baking sheet and let it rise for about 30 minutes.
Brush all bread with whisked eggs and sprinkle them with poppy seeds.
Bake at 350F, for bout 30 minutes, depending on the size of your bread.