Amazing Portuguese Sweet-Bread Recipe

Amazing Portuguese Sweet-Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 pkgs. or cakes active dry or compressed yeast
• a pinch plus 1 c. sugar.
• 1/4 c. lukewarm water (110 to 115 degrees)
• 5 to 6 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 c. lukewarm milk (110 to 115 degrees)
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 lb. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into sm. bits
• 2 tbsp. softened butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Method

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast and a pinch of sugar over the lukewarm water
2. Let the mixture stand for 2 or 3 minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast completely
3. Set the bowl in a warm, draft-free place, such as an unlighted oven, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the mixture doubles in volume
4. In a deep mixing bowl, combine the 2 cup of sugar, 4 cups of the flour and the salt
5. Make a well in the center, pour in the yeast and milk, and drop until all the ingredients are well combined
6. Beat in 1/4 pound of butter, then add up to 2 cups more flour, beating it in 1/4 cup at a time, and using as much as necessary to form a dough that can be gathered into a soft ball
7. If the dough becomes difficult to stir, work in the flour with your fingers
8. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it, pressing down and pushing it forward several times with the heel of your hand
9. Fold it back on itself and repeat for about 15 minutes until it is smooth and elastic
10. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a large, lightly buttered bowl
11. Dust the top with flour, drape with a towel and set aside in the warm, draft-free place for 45 minutes to an hour until the dough doubles in bulk
12. With a pastry brush, coat the bottom and sides of two 9 inch pie plates with 2 tablespoons of softened butter
13. Punch the dough down with a single blow of your fist, then transfer it to a lightly floured surface and let it rest for 10 minutes
14. Divide the dough in two and pat the halves into flattened round loaves about 8 inches across
15. Place them in the pie plates and let them rise in a warm place for about 40 minutes
16. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
17. With a pastry brush, coat the top of both loaves with beaten egg
18. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 1 hour, or until the loaves are golden brown and crusty
19. Cool on cake racks

Full List of Portuguese Recipes
Full List of Bread Recipes