Here’s a simple recipe for Homemade Molded Bread, where you’ll be molding the dough into a unique shape before baking it. This isn’t a recipe for moldy bread, but rather for shaping bread dough with a mold or freeform.
Homemade Molded Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- Extra flour for kneading
Instructions:
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. Stir and let sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
- Mix Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter. Add the egg and activated yeast mixture. Mix until everything comes together to form a dough.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Shaping: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air. You can now either freeform the dough into different shapes or use a bread mold to create a specific design. For freeform, shape the dough into rounds, twists, braids, or knots—whatever you prefer. If using a mold, grease the mold and press the dough into it.
- Second Rise: Allow the shaped dough to rise for another 30-45 minutes, until puffed up.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown, and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool and Enjoy: Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy your homemade molded bread!