White Velvet Batter Bread
- Two 13-ounce coffee cans or two 4 1/2-inch diameter ovenproof glass baking canisters
- 1 tablespoon (1 package) active dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 115)
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk, regular, fat-free, or goat's milk, undiluted, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons walnut oil or unsalted butter, melted
- 4 1/2 cups (exact measure) unbleached all-purpose flour
- In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast, a pinch of the brown sugar, and the ginger over the warm water.
- Stir to dissolve and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
- Combine the milk, the remaining sugar, salt, oil or butter, and 1 1/2 cups of the flour in a large bowl.
- Beat vigorously with a balloon whisk or dough whisk, at least 40 strokes by hand, until thick and sticky.
- Add the yeast mixture and beat vigorously for 1 minute more.
- Continue to add the remaining flour gradually, 1/2 cup at a time, then beat vigorously another 100 strokes, about 2 minutes.
- The batter will stay sticky.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
- Combine the milk, the remaining sugar, salt, oil or butter, and 1 1/2 cups of the flour in the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Beat for 1 minute on medium speed, or until thick and sticky.
- Add the yeast mixture and beat for 1 minute more.
- Continue to add the remaining flour on low speed, 1/2 cup at a time, then beat vigorously about 2 minutes on medium speed.
- The batter will stay sticky.
- Scrape down the sides with a spatula.
- Generously grease the bottom and sides of the coffee cans or glass baking canisters.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 2 molds, filling one-half to two-thirds full.
- Use a spatula to push the batter into the corners and smooth the top with flour-dusted fingers.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap lightly greased with vegetable oil cooking spray and let rise at room temperature until double in bulk, about 45 minutes to 1 hour; the batter should be even with the rim of the pan and slightly lift up the plastic wrap.
- Do not let the dough rise more than double (overrisen loaves collapse during baking).
- If the batter overrises, scrape it into a bowl, beat vigorously about 20 strokes, then return it to the pan and begin the rising again.
- About 20 minutes before baking, place the oven rack in the lower part of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 (325 if using glass molds).
- Bake until the top is crusty and dark brown, the bread sounds hollow when tapped, and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.
- An instant-read thermometer should read 200 degrees.
- The crown will dome about 3 to 4 inches above the rim of the mold.
- Cool in the molds for 5 minutes.
- Turn the mold on its side and slide the loaves out onto a rack to cool on their sides for at least 2 hours.
- Serve slightly warm, sliced into thick rounds or cut into long wedges, with lots of butter.
- Store wrapped in a plastic food storage bag at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
coffee, active dry yeast, brown sugar, ground ginger, warm water, milk, salt, walnut oil, flour
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/white-velvet-batter-bread-103217 (may not work)