Learn how to make freshly baked bread in under an hour. These easy tips and fast recipes will show you how you can become an instant expert, homemade bread baker.
Homemade Bread
Love homemade bread but never thought it would come out of your kitchen? Go from beginner to brag-worthy baker in 60 minutes.
Getting Started
To get beautiful bread in just 60 minutes, you’ve gotta bake smart. Here’s 4 tips to pull it off:
1. Kick-start your dough: If you’re using yeast, keeping the dough extra-warm and cozy can slash your rising time in half. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees, turn it off, then stick in the dough. The heat encourages the yeast to gobble up the sugars in the dough and release carbon dioxide, which causes the dough to puff up.
2. Skip the yeast: Baking soda and baking powder can also give breads a boost — and there’s no waiting for the dough to rise. Baking soda needs something acidic (buttermilk, molasses) to create its loft. Baking powder is even easier — it rises on its own.
Rule of Thumb: Baking is a science, which means accurate measurements are important. Embrace your measuring spoons!
Beat The Clock
3. Go steam-powered: Baked goods like popovers don’t need any additional ingredients to reach their dramatic height. As they bake, the liquid in the batter turns to steam, causing them to pop up in the pan.
4. Cheat a little: Start with store-bought dough (it’ll be our secret!), then shape and flavor it however you like. Find three ideas on page 10.
Rule of Thumb: Your mixer’s dough hook kneads shaggy, sticky dough into smooth dough ready for baking — no elbow grease required.
Puffy Dough
Even though you can make these breads in under and hour, be patient and let your dough rise completely. This is what you’ll want to see as your dough rises: some nice bubbles and plenty of puff.
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SOURCE: Rachel Ray Mag
Tracey Seaman, Nina Elder, Ryan Liebe
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