Holiday Bread Wreath
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for forming the loaves
- 2 1/4 cups bread flour
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon rapid-rise yeast
- Mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, the bread flour, salt, yeast and 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water (105 degrees F to 110 degrees F) in a large bowl with a wooden spoon to make a wet and sticky dough.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until almost tripled in size, 2 to 3 hours (the top will flatten and begin to sink in the center).
- Divide the dough in half and transfer one piece to another bowl.
- Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
- Put a pizza stone or inverted rimmed baking sheet on the highest oven rack and put a broiler pan on the lowest rack; preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, sprinkle each piece with 1/4 cup flour, then shape each into a smooth, taut ball.
- Cover the bowls loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Put a large piece of parchment paper on a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet and dust with flour.
- Using floured hands, pick up a ball of dough and poke your thumbs through the center to make a hole.
- Place on the parchment, then gently stretch the dough from the center to make a 9-inch-diameter ring with a 5-inch hole in the center.
- Sprinkle generously with flour.
- Lay out another sheet of parchment, dust with flour and repeat to shape the other ball of dough into a ring.
- Let rest, uncovered, 15 minutes.
- Holding kitchen shears at a 45 degrees F angle, make deep cuts at 1-to-1 1/2-inch intervals all the way around both dough rings, pulling the cut sections away from the center as you go to make "leaves."
- Let rest, uncovered, until plump, about 15 more minutes.
- Slide one dough wreath (on the parchment) directly onto the hot stone.
- Carefully pour 1 cup water into the broiler pan underneath to create steam; quickly shut the oven door.
- Bake until the bread is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer to a rack to cool.
- Repeat with the second dough wreath, adding another cup of water to the broiler pan.
- MAKE IT AHEAD Cool the bread completely, then wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 5 days.
- Reheat, wrapped, at 450 degrees F until warmed through, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Photograph by Con Poulos
allpurpose flour, bread flour, kosher salt, rapidrise
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/holiday-bread-wreath-recipe.html (may not work)