English Muffin Toasting Bread is something I hadn't made in decades when it
recently entered my thoughts again. Most recipes for it call for a huge amount
of yeast and very short rising time. I prefer the added flavor that comes from
using less yeast and more time.
This bread makes the crunchiest, most English muffin-like toast ever! Perfect with a generous slathering of organic unsalted butter and raspberry jam. And it is so incredibly easy that it's the first thing that came to mind when I asked myself "What can I possibly make for the blog today even though I'm sick?" Yes, its that easy!
English Muffin Toasting Bread
(Makes two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by 2 1/2-inch loaves)
5 dip-and-sweep cups (25 ounces/709 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
This bread makes the crunchiest, most English muffin-like toast ever! Perfect with a generous slathering of organic unsalted butter and raspberry jam. And it is so incredibly easy that it's the first thing that came to mind when I asked myself "What can I possibly make for the blog today even though I'm sick?" Yes, its that easy!
English Muffin Toasting Bread
(Makes two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by 2 1/2-inch loaves)
5 dip-and-sweep cups (25 ounces/709 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups (24 fluid ounces/710 ml) milk (I use organic 2 percent)
1 In large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, salt and baking
soda. In 1-quart glass measure, heat milk until very warm (120 to 130F/49 to 54C)
in the microwave.
2 With dough whisk or large wooden spoon, stir milk into flour until well combined. Spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray and cover bowl. Let dough rise for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.
3 Spray two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch loaf pans, also known as 1-pound loaf pans (another 1-pound loaf pan) with cooking spray and coat with about a tablespoon of cornmeal. Stir down dough and divide evenly between the two prepared pans. Smooth out the batter and sprinkle with a little cornmeal. Cover pans with the same piece of sprayed plastic wrap you used to cover the bowl. Let dough rise for about an hour, just to the tops of the pans.
4 During last 10 minutes of rise, preheat oven to 400F/205C/Gas6 (375F/190C/Gas5, if using glass pans). Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack for about an hour. Do not slice until completely cool.
2 With dough whisk or large wooden spoon, stir milk into flour until well combined. Spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray and cover bowl. Let dough rise for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.
3 Spray two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch loaf pans, also known as 1-pound loaf pans (another 1-pound loaf pan) with cooking spray and coat with about a tablespoon of cornmeal. Stir down dough and divide evenly between the two prepared pans. Smooth out the batter and sprinkle with a little cornmeal. Cover pans with the same piece of sprayed plastic wrap you used to cover the bowl. Let dough rise for about an hour, just to the tops of the pans.
4 During last 10 minutes of rise, preheat oven to 400F/205C/Gas6 (375F/190C/Gas5, if using glass pans). Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack for about an hour. Do not slice until completely cool.