Sweet Bread 1 Portuguese Recipe: Makes 2 loaves
Ingredients
- 2 packages active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 cup lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 5 1/2 - 6 cups flour
- 1 egg
Method
Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Stir in milk, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, 3 eggs, margarine and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl. Turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched) Punch down dough and divide into halves. Shape each half into a round, slightly flat loaf. Place each loaf in greased round 9x1 1/2-inch layer cake pan. Cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour. Heat oven to 350F. Beat 1 egg slightly and brush over loaves. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake until loaves are golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. After dividing dough into halves, roll each half into a rope about 25x1 1/2-inches. Coil each to form a snail shape in greased round 9-inch layer cake pan.