Instructions

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  1.  To make the dough: In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix and knead to make a smooth, elastic dough. This should take about 5 minutes using a stand mixer with a dough hook on low speed, or 7 minutes by hand. 

  2. Cover the dough and let it rest in the bowl for 15 minutes. Shape it into a 9” log and place it into a greased 9” x 5” pan. Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the loaf crests about 1” above the rim of the pan.

  3. Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F. When ready to bake, uncover the bread, brush the top with water, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of bread topping.

  4. Bake the bread for 30 to 35 minutes, until it’s golden brown and the center reads 190°F when measured with a digital thermometer. Remove the bread from the oven and turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool completely before slicing.

  5. Storage instructions: Store leftover bread, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Don’t let the dough rise more than 1” above the pan’s rim; letting it get too high makes the loaf much more likely to collapse as it cools after baking.