Bread Of The Dead
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup (1/6 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- About 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons sesame seed
- In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over 1/4 cup warm (110u0b0) water; let stand about 5 minutes.
- Heat milk and butter to 110u0b0. Add milk mixture, sugar, and salt to softened yeast.
- Lightly beat eggs to blend. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the eggs into a small bowl, cover, and chill. Add remaining eggs and vanilla to yeast mixture; stir to blend. Add 2 1/4 cups flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon; stir to moisten, then beat with a mixer on high speed until dough is stretchy, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 1 cup flour to moisten.
- Knead dough. If using a dough hook, beat on high speed until dough pulls cleanly from bowl and no longer feels sticky, about 5 minutes. If dough is still sticky, beat in more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- If kneading by hand, scrape dough onto a well-floured board. Knead until dough is smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky, about 12 minutes; add flour as required to prevent sticking. Return dough to bowl.
- Cover bowl airtight and let dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Punch dough down. Knead on a lightly floured board to expel air. Form into a 7-inch round and set on a buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until puffy, about 40 minutes.
- Uncover dough and brush gently with reserved beaten egg. Sprinkle loaf with sesame seed. With a sharp, floured knife, make a slash about 1/2 inch deep across the middle of the loaf.
- Bake loaf in a 350u0b0 oven until richly browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm or cool. If making ahead, wrap cool loaf airtight and let stand at room temperature up to 1 day; freeze to store longer.
- If desired, cut a slit in the bread and insert a Day of the Dead decoration such as a miniature skull or skeleton.
- Nutritional analysis per ounce.
active dry yeast, milk, butter, sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla, flour, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, sesame seed
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/bread-of-dead (may not work)