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Easy Pumpkin-Shaped Bread
Description
Ah, the joys of autumn include this easy bread recipe in the shape of a pumpkin that’s not only delicious but will take your fall dinner table to the next level.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 2/3 cups lukewarm water (90• -105•)
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil –for greasing bowl so the dough does not stick
- Cooking twine
- Scissors
- Parchment paper
- Dutch oven
- Optional: bread lame to score designs in the dough
- Cinnamon stick for pumpkin stem
Instructions
- Stir ingredients in the first ingredient list in the order listed above.
- If mixing by hand, use a wooden spoon and combine until everything comes together.
- If using a machine with a paddle, mix until everything comes together.
- If kneading the dough by hand, turn it out onto a floured surface and work the dough back and forth for approximately 7 minutes by pressing the heel of your hand away from you and repeat the process. The dough should be springy and slightly smooth.
- If using a dough hook and machine, knead the dough on medium speed for approximately 8 minutes. As the dough is mixed with the hook, it should begin to pull away from the bowl and form a ball.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl with olive oil and cover the top of the bowl with plastic.
- Set aside in a warm location and let the dough rise (double in size) for approximately 2 hours.
- While the dough rises, cut a sheet of parchment paper large enough to set the dough on, and place the cooking twine on top of the parchment in a criss-cross pattern to create 8 lobes.
To accomplish this, cut 4 strings approximately 20 inches long and knot them together in the middle to make the 8 lobes. - Set the dough in the middle of the knot, bring up the string, gather where the stem of the pumpkin would be, and knot together all the strings on the top of the pumpkin to create the segments. Cut off any excess string. The strings should be tied somewhat tight to make the segments in the pumpkin. (see photo)
- If using a bread lame (see note), create a design in the pumpkin dough. While making patterns in the pumpkin, place the empty Dutch oven inside the oven and preheat to 375•.
- Once the Dutch oven is preheated, use the parchment paper to carefully lift the pumpkin and set it inside the preheated Dutch oven with the lid on, and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Place on a cooling rack, and insert a cinnamon stick on top of the pumpkin to create the stem.
Notes
What is a bread lame? A bread lame is a double-sided blade used to make creative patterns in bread. Not only do designs look beautiful on the bread, but they help the bread from not having a blowout in the oven.
We know it’s hard, but it’s best to wait until the bread has cooled before cutting into it to prevent the crust from getting soggy. No one likes soggy bread.
