Buttery Herb Loaves Recipes

HERB LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in the sugar, butter, parsley, basil, salt, oregano, thyme, garlic powder and 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-6 minutes. Place in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into loaf. Place in a 9x5-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

BUTTER AND HERB LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, sugar and salt. In a small saucepan, heat milk and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., In a small bowl, combine filling ingredients; set aside. Punch down dough; divide in half. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll each portion into a 15x9-in. rectangle. Spread filling over each to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seams to seal and tuck ends under. , Place seam side down in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

CRUSTY GARLIC AND HERB BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Oil the inside of the bowl of a mini food processor. Add the softened butter, garlic, cheese and herbs. Pulse until well combined.
• Slice the bread into 1-inch thick slices. You will need 12 to 16 slices.
• Spread the butter mixture onto 1 side of each bread slice. Arrange slices, butter side up and bake in the oven until lightly toasted, about 5 to 8 minutes.

SWEET AND BUTTERY LOAF

Steps:

• Place the yeast, water and 1 tablespoon of the flour in a small bowl. Mix to combine and set aside.
• Place the chopped butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on low speed until combined.
• Increase the speed to medium and beat for 8 minutes or until pale and creamy.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg yolks. Beat until well combined.
• Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the buttermilk, vanilla, salt, the remaining flour and the yeast mixture and beat until combined.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat for a further 8-10 minutes or until the dough is smooth.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and, kneading gently, bring together.
• Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place for 2-3 hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Brush a 10cm x 20cm (2-liter/2-quart-capacity) loaf tin with half the melted butter. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and shape into rounds. Arrange in the prepared tin, cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Using kitchen scissors, snip lengthways down the center of the dough in the tin to create 8 portions. Brush the dough with the remaining butter and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden. Pull the loaf apart and spread with extra butter to serve.

PULL-APART GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine yeast, 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees) and pinch of sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Attach bowl to mixer fitted with dough-hook attachment. Mix on low speed, adding butter, milk, salt, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and eggs. Slowly add flour and mix on low until mixture just comes together. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until dough is soft and elastic, 5 minutes.
• Lightly brush a large bowl with butter. Place dough in bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm, draft-free place and let rise until dough doubles in size, about 2 hours (or refrigerate overnight; bring to room temperature before baking).
• Filling: Combine butter, garlic, herbs and salt in small bowl. Lightly coat two standard 5-by-9-inch loaf pans with butter. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Roll into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Using an offset spatula, spread herb-butter mixture evenly over dough. Using a pizza wheel or a sharp knife, cut dough lengthwise into 3 equal strips. Cut dough crosswise into 4 equal sections. (You will have twelve 4-inch squares.) Fold each square in half, and place 6 in each pan, folded-sides down. (Dough will be soft.) Cover pans with plastic wrap and let rise until dough does not spring back when pressed with a finger, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake loaves until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before turning out of pans; serve. Bread can be stored, wrapped in parchment-lined foil, at room temperature up to 1 day.

CHEESY HERB MINI LOAVES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened., Transfer to three greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

HERB-INFUSED LEMON-STRAWBERRY LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8 1/2x4 1/2" loaf pan, then line with parchment paper, leaving a 2" overhang on 2 sides.
• Lightly crush herbs with your hands to help release oils, then transfer to a small saucepan. Add 3/4 cup butter and cook over medium heat, swirling pan often, until butter melts, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, 15-20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir 3/4 cup milk, 1 Tbsp. lemon zest, and 1/4 cup lemon juice in a small bowl. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed (or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment), beat eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light in color and doubled in size, 4-5 minutes. Discard herbs from butter, then beat butter into egg mixture until well combined. Add half of dry ingredients and beat just until combined. Beat in milk mixture, then add remaining dry ingredients and beat just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Pour half of batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Top with 3 Tbsp. jam and swirl through batter with a butter knife or chopstick. Pour remaining batter over; smooth top. Repeat swirling process with remaining 3 Tbsp. jam.
• Bake cake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 50-60 minutes.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool 20 minutes. Remove cake from pan using parchment overhang and let cool completely.
• Whisk powdered sugar and remaining 1 Tbsp. milk and 1 tsp. lemon zest in a small bowl until smooth. Spoon over top of cake and let drip down sides.
• Do Ahead: Cake can be baked 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, or freeze up to 3 months.

BRAIDED ITALIAN HERB BREAD

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, basil, salt, oregano, garlic powder, and rosemary in a large bowl.
• Combine milk, water, and butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in a microwave until butter melts, about 30 seconds. Pour over the flour mixture; beat until dough is just moistened. Add egg; beat until smooth. Stir in remaining 3 cups flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface such as a large cutting board or countertop. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into thirds. Shape each piece into a 15-inch rope. Transfer ropes to a greased baking sheet. Braid together. Pinch ends to seal; tuck under the braid. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Brush top of the braid with olive oil and sprinkle with basil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet, or remove to a wire rack.