Honey-butter french bread

1 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 cups Warm water; (105F to 115F)
1 teaspoon Sugar
1 Envelope dry yeast
2 tablespoons Butter; melted (1/4 stick)
2 teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Honey
5 cups Unbleached all purpose flour; (about)

Directions

Mix ¼ cup warm water and sugar in large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over; stir to dissolve. Let stand until foamy, about 8 minutes. Stir in remaining 1¾ cups warm water. Mix in butter, salt and honey. Using wooden spoon, stir in 4 cups flour.

Turn dough out onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 8 minutes. Form dough into ball. Butter large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then with clean towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Cover dough with plastic wrap and let rest 10 minutes.

Divide dough in half; roll each dough piece between hands and work surface into 9-inch-long loaf. Transfer loaves to baking sheet. Cover with plastic, then with towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 425F. Make 5 diagonal slashes crosswise in surface of each loaf. Lightly brush water over tops and sides of loaves. Bake loaves 20 minutes, brushing occasionally with water.

Continue baking until loaves are golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool.

Makes two 9-inch loaves.

Bon Appetit November 1999

Converted by MC_Buster.

Per serving: 262 Calories (kcal); 23g Total Fat; (77% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; 62mg Cholesterol; 4516mg Sodium Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); ½ Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 4 ½ Fat; ½ Other Carbohydrates Converted by MM_Buster v2.0n.

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