I love making stuffed bread! When I started baking stuffed bread, the outsides would be crispy. However, it is sometimes difficult to get the soft spongy texture that you desire. It still tasted great but I wanted a recipe that resembles the softness of kolaches. After a lot of trial and error, this is the recipe that worked the best. I usually try to make my bread healthier, using less butter, healthy fats instead, and whole flour wherever possible. But I have come to realize that sometimes it is ok to stick to the basics if you want something to taste as close to the real thing as possible. This is a brioche-style bread which is slightly on the sweeter side. You can back it as a load, go crazy on the decorations as I did, or simply use it to make stuffed bread with your favorite filling! If you make a loaf, the slices are perfect to make French toast the next day! Have fun making it, and make it your own!
What you will need:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Bread Flour | 4 cups |
| Butter | 1/2 cup |
| Water | 1/4 cup |
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Sugar | 1/4 cup |
| Rapid Rise Yeast | 2 packets/ 2 tablespoons |
| Eggs | 2 |
How to make it:
- Tip: The eggs need to be at room temperature.
- In a food processor or KitchenAid mixer, mix all the dry ingredients including yeast, salt, flour, and sugar.
- Heat the butter and milk together until the butter melts and the milk is warm.
- Add the butter and milk mixture to the flour and let it knead till the dough comes together.
- Add the two eggs and water.
- Once the dough comes together and forms a soft dough, leave it aside to rest and rise.
- If you do not have a stand mixer, it is ok to knead the dough by hand as well. You need to make sure it is very soft to the touch and not sticky after the kneading.
- Grease and dust your loaf pan or baking tray with oil and flour.
- Punch the dough and shape it into the shapes you desire. If you plan on using it to make stuffed bread, roll it out, and fill in the stuffing of your choice.
- Set this aside to rise for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Optional: Whisk an egg with one tablespoon of milk and use this egg wash to brush the top of the bread for the perfect golden brown color on baking.
- Put the bread in the oven and let it cook. The times will vary based on the size of your loaf pan or the type of bread you are planning to make.
- Enjoy!