What could be better than home-baked bread for your bunny chow?
Follow this recipe to bake a soft, white loaf that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Use a sandwich loaf pan with a lid to achieve those beautiful squared-off corners.
Ingredients:
- 500g (4 cups) bread flour
- 10g (2 tsp) salt
- 7g (2 tsp) instant yeast
- 300ml (1 1/4 cups) warm water
- 50ml (3 1/2 tbsp) milk
- 25g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 15g (1 tbsp) sugar
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar.
- In a separate bowl, mix the warm water, milk, and yeast. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast is dissolved and starts to froth.
- Add the yeast mixture and softened butter to the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough starts to come together.
- Knead the Dough:
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment on medium speed for about 8 minutes.
- First Rise:
- Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, covering it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape the Dough:
- Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release the gas.
- Transfer it to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a loaf by flattening it into a rectangle, folding it into thirds, and rolling it up from the short end.
- Second Rise:
- Place the shaped dough into a greased 9×5 inch (23×13 cm) loaf pan.
- Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise for another 45 minutes to an hour, or until it has doubled in size and the dough rises just above the top of the loaf pan.
- Bake the Bread:
- Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F).
- Once the dough has risen, bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- If the top of the loaf browns too quickly, you can cover it with aluminum foil halfway through baking.
- Cool the Bread:
- Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips:
- For a softer crust, brush the top of the loaf with melted butter right after baking.
- Make sure to measure your ingredients accurately for the best results.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to avoid a gummy texture.
Enjoy your homemade soft white sandwich loaf, perfect for your next bunny chow.
