DIY Recipes: How to make sugar bread
Ghanaian sugar bread is a popular and beloved sweet bread known for its fluffy texture and rich buttery flavour.
It’s perfect for breakfast, served with tea or coffee, or as a snack. Making it involves a few specific steps to ensure that the bread is as fluffy and light as possible. Here’s a detailed guide on how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 500 grams (about 4 cups) of bread flour
- 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup warm milk (not hot)
- Additional butter for brushing
Instructions:
1. Prepare the yeast mixture:
In a small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar into the warm milk. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes, or until it becomes frothy. This step is crucial as it activates the yeast.
2. Mix the dry ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, the remaining sugar, and salt. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
3. Add wet ingredients:
Make a well in the centre of your dry ingredients. Pour in the melted butter, beaten egg, and the activated yeast mixture. Mix well until a sticky dough forms.
4. Knead the dough:
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. The dough should be slightly tacky but not overly sticky. Add a little more flour if necessary, but be sparing—too much flour can make the bread dense.
5. First rise:
Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, turning it once to coat all sides with oil or butter. Cover the bowl with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
6. Punch down and shape:
Once risen, punch down the dough to release air bubbles. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into two or three equal parts, depending on the size of loaves you prefer.
Shape each part into a loaf by rolling the dough into an oval and folding it into thirds, then tucking the ends under to form a loaf shape. This helps create layers that will puff up during baking.
7. Second rise:
Place the shaped loaves into greased loaf pans. Cover them again and let rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until the dough has risen about an inch above the rim of the pans.
8. Preheat the oven:
About 20 minutes before the second rise is complete, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
9. Bake:
Place the loaves in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
10. Brush with butter:
Remove the bread from the oven and immediately brush with melted butter. This will help soften the crust and add a delightful buttery flavour.
11. Cool:
Let the bread cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Serving suggestions:
Serve butter bread warm with a spread of butter or jam.
It also pairs beautifully with a savory dish, such as stew or soup.
This recipe yields a delightfully fluffy and richly flavored sugar bread, embodying the warm and comforting traditions of Ghana. Enjoy the process and the delicious results!