Braided Cinnamon Bread Loaf

    

     

 

According to Wikipedia, cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus (biological hierarchy - above species but below family) Cinnamomum. I use cinnamon in my cooking and baking as it is very aromatic - the powder mainly in my bread and cake and the cinnamon bark in my curry. My husband uses the powder in his breakfast cereals  and he usually boils the bark to make his drinks - coffee and tea.

I have decided to make Braided Cinnamon Bread Loaf for our breakfast and teatime. The process is the same as that of making Cinnamon Rolls until the rolling up stage. After rolling up the dough into a long log, I use a sharp knife to cut the log into three, lengthwise without the detaching the top. Then I braided the dough and put it into the pan to proof before baking.

Ingredients:

200 g warm milk
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp instant yeast

400 g high protein flour
40 g sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg abt 75 g without shell
35 g butter

Fillings:
65 g brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon powder
A pinch of salt
50 g butter

Method:

• Activate the yeast. Add warm milk, sugar and yeast into a bowl. Stir and let it sit for 5-10 minutes for bubbles to form.

• Add flour, sugar & salt into mixing bowl of stand mixer.

• Add egg & yeast mixture to the bowl.

• Knead till dough ball is formed.

• Add butter.

• Continue to knead till dough is elastic and window pane is reached.

• Grease a clean bowl and place the dough into the bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or cling wrap. Let the dough proof till it doubles in size.

• Punch down and roll dough into a rectangle.

• Spread butter (from Filling) onto dough.

• Spread cinnamon mixture onto dough using a sift (for evenness).

• Roll up the dough. Pinch the edge to seal the dough.

• Using a sharp knife, cut the roll into 3 (lengthwise) without detaching the top. Then, braid the dough.

• Place the braided dough into 8in x 4 in x 4 in greased loaf pan with the 2 ends tucked below.

• Proof the dough till it reaches top of pan.

• Egg wash the dough.

• Bake the dough at 175 deg C for 40-45 min.

• Remove the bread immediately after it is cooked onto a metal rack.

• Slice the bread after it has completely cooled down.